208 MAJOR F. WALL, I. M.S., C.M.Z.S. 



consider, undoubtedly Beddome's specimen in the British Museum, which was figured 

 by Gunther l and referred by him to fasciata (Schneider). I agree with Mr. Boulenger 

 in considering this specimen distinct from fasciata, but I do not agree with him in 

 associating it with Russell's plate xliv. Whether or not this form should rank as a 

 definite species, or be considered a lapemoides or a variety of cyanocincta, it is 

 difficult to say. 



I have seen six specimens which are so alike in scale characters and colour that 

 I feel sure they are identical. Two of these are the specimens labelled mamillaris 

 in the British Museum, one in the College of Surgeons' Museum (No. 521C); one in 

 the Indian Museum, Calcutta (No 13392); and two in the Bombay Natural History 

 Society's collection. The range of variation in the anterior costals is 25 to 29, in the 

 costals at midbody 31 to 40. The ventrals range between 287 and 367. The 

 annuli vary from 43 to 56, are well defined, and broader than the spaces ; and in 

 all other particulars including postoculars, temporals and labials they are alike. 



The sole character I can find to differentiate these from lapemoides is that the 

 costals are fewer. From cyanocincta they are characterised only by the juxtaposed 

 condition of the costals. 



Description. — The forebody is from one-third to one-fourth the greatest body 

 depth The head shields are almost as regular as in the preceding species of Distira. 



Rostral, — the portion visible above from half to three-fifths the internasal 

 suture. P r sef r o n t a 1 s, — touch the second sup ralabial. Postoculars, — two. 

 Temporal s, — ill developed and irregular, usually two superimposed scales anteriorly 

 (in one specimen three on one side, and a single large shield on the other). Supra- 

 labials, — seven, the posterior three or four subject to division. Inf ralabial s, — 

 four, the last in contact with three or four scales behind. The suture between the first 

 shorter than that between the anterior sublinguals. Marginals, — present; usually 

 one after the third inf ralabial, sometimes two after the second or third (in one 

 example none on one side, one after the third on the other). Sublinguals, — two 

 well developed pairs, the fellows of each in contact. Costals, — anterior 25 to 29, 

 midbody 31 to 40, posterior 34 to 41 ; the anterior imbricate, posterior juxtaposed. 

 Ventrals, — 287 to 367, entire, twice or nearly twice the breadth of the last costal 

 row throughout. Colour, — head black, body surrounded by from 43 to 56 well 

 defined black annuli, which are much broader than the interspaces at midcosta, and 

 usually much confluent ventrally , especially anteriorly. 



Habitat. — The shores of Peninsular India. Apparently rare. My figure is from 

 a specimen in the Bombay Society's collection from Bombay. 



Distira spiralis (Shaw). 



Hydrus spiralis, Shaw, Zool. iii., 1802, p. 564, pi. cxxv. 

 Hydrophis spiralis, Gray, Cat., 1859, p. 54. 



,, ,, Gunther, Rept. Brit, hid., 1864, p. 366, pi. xxv, fig. D. 



I Rept. Brit, lnd., pi. xxv, figs. and Q'. 



