AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 83 
them are also light colored, and below these is another whitish spot, formed 
by the inner portions of eight scales with a darker centre. The occipitals 
are slightly raised above the eye, and resemble, in this respect, the scales 
in the genus Acanthophis. The frontals shelve downwards, and the 
rostral is so low, as not to be visible from above if the head be put in 
a horizontal position. . Body and tail above lead colored, beneath whitish ; 
the abdominals have brown spots in the corner of each plate, which become 
faint towards the tail. 
Mr. Thomas Nobbs, a liberal donor to the Museum, discovered this 
new snake near Rockhampton, in Queensland. 
. FAMILY OF SEA SNAKES—HYDROPHIDZ.* 
Body subcylindrical anteriorly, more or less compressed posteriorly ; 
tail strongly compressed, elevated, paddle-shaped. Head shields generally 
abnormal; loreal, none. Nostrils situated on the upper side of the head, 
except in Platurus. Eye small, with round pupil. The venom fang small, 
grooved in front, and with a canal in its interior terminating in a short 
slit. 
“The Sea Snakes are inhabitants of the tropical parts of the Indian 
and Pacific Oceans, extending from the coast of Madagascar to the Isthmus 
-of Panama; they are most numerous in the East Indian Archipelago, and 
in the seas between Southern China and North Australia, being represented 
on the outskirts of the geographical range we have mentioned by only one 
species, and that the most common, viz., Pelamis bicolor. They pass 
their whole life in the water (with the exception perhaps of the Platwrus), 
and soon die when brought on shore. 
“The most striking feature in the organization of the Sea Snakes is 
their elevated and compressed tail, the processes of the caudal vertebree 
being much prolonged and styliform. The hind part of the body, and 
sometimes forwards to beyond the middle of its length, is also compressed, 
and the belly forms a more or less sharp ridge. The ventral shields would 
* The remarks on the Sea Snakes are by Dr. A. Giinther, F.R.S., originally published in the Reptiles of 
British India. 
