GREAT HYDRUS. 559 



three quarters of an inch beyond it, the latter 

 being terminated by a long, aculeated scale. 

 This is a marine species, but its particular history 

 seems to be unknown : it appears to be furnished 

 on ^ach side the upper jaw with a row of small 

 teeth, one of which on each side is much larger 

 than the rest, and on being examined with a lens, 

 is evidently tubular, the slit towards the point 

 being much longer in proportion than in that of 

 the Rattle-Snake, and even forming a continued 

 furrow along the greater part of the tooth. Na- 

 tive of the Indian seas. 



VAR. ? 



A SPECIMEN somewhat less than the former, is 

 of a brown colour, the dorsal bands appearing much 

 less distinct : but as both animals appear to have 

 been long preserved in spirits, too much depend- 

 ance should not be placed on this particular. 

 These snakes are preserved in the British Museum, 

 as is also another, which, in general form, length, 

 &c. is aUied to the preceding, but seems to have 

 differed considerably in pattern and colour, the 

 bands being yellow, decurrent, and becoming al- 

 ternato-confluent beneath, so as to leave large 

 round side-spots of the white ground-colour. 



