114 PELAMIS B1COLOK. 



Anguis platura; Lin. Si/xt. Nat. 391. Hydrus bicolor ; Shaiv t Zoot. iii. t. 12G ; 

 Srhneirf. Amp/i. i. p. 240. Pclainis bicolor; Daudin, vii. p. 3G(>, t. 89. Nalla 

 Wahlagilce Pain ; Russel, Ind. Scrp. ii. p. 47, t. 41. 



This singular snake, figured by Seba, vol. ii. t. 77, fig, 1, and by 

 Vosmaer in a Memoir published at Amsterdam, in 1774, has since 

 been described as a new species under the name of sb/guis plalurus, 

 by Gmelin, after Forster, who discovered it about the shores of 

 some of the islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is readily distinguished, 

 as Dr. Shaw justly observes, by the remarkable distribution of its 

 colours ; the head and upper parts of the body being of a rich deep 

 chocolate brown colour or black, the lower parts pale yellow, and 

 the tail marked with black bands and spots. A pretty broad longi- 

 tudinal band of a bright sulphur-yellow colour is represented in 

 Russel's plate, commencing from the cheek, and prolonged regularly 

 on each side to within two inches of the anus. The head is of an 

 elongated form in front, bulging behind, somewhat convex above, 

 and projecting into an obtuse rostrum. The occiput is covered 

 with small suborbicular scales ; the anterior part of the head and 

 the rostrum with large plates. The opening of the mouth is very 

 wide; the jaws long, narrow, and nearly equal. According to 

 Russel, the teeth are small and numerous, there being a marginal 

 and two palatal rows in the upper jaw : the nostrils vertical and 

 near each other ; the eyes lateral, oval, and of middling size. The 

 body is compressed, and the back highly carinated ; the scales on 

 the trunk and tail are square, closely set, but not imbricate, and 

 very numerous. The general length is about two feet and a half ; 

 the tail three inches. The annexed figure was made from a speci- 

 men in the collection of Mr. Bell. 



The Pelamis bicolor is found in the Indian seas ; and according 

 to the Vizingapatam fishermen, who regard it as a very dan- 

 gerous serpent, seldom approaches the shore. It is said to be very 

 common at the Island of Otaheite, where it is called by the natives 

 Etoona-toree, and is used as an article of food. It feeds principally 

 on the smaller fishes and molluscous animals, which according to 

 Forster it seizes with the utmost address. 



