26 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
Hydrophis chloris. Soonderbuns, Bay of Bengal. 
„ lindsayi. Indian Coast. 
„ latifasciata. Mergui. 
„ coronata. Bay of Bengal, Soonderbuns. 
„ diadema. Probably Indian. 
„ gracilis. Indian Coast, Bay of Bengal. 
„ fasciata. Indian Coast, Bay of Bengal. 
„ cantoris. Penang. 
„ lapemoides. Indian Coast, Ceylon. 
„ longiceps. Indian Ocean. 
„ stricticollis. Doubtful. 
„ ornata. Indian Ocean. 
„ elliotti. Indian Coast, Ceylon. 
„ pachycercus. Indian Ocean. 
„ viperina. Indian Coast. 
„ curta. Indian Coast (near Pooree). 
* „ hardwickii. Penang. 
„ fayreriana, n. s. Anderson. Indian Coast, Bay 
of Bengal, Pooree. 
„ tuberculata, n. s. Anderson. Tidal streams, Cal¬ 
cutta. 
„ crassicollis, n. s. Anderson. Bay of Bengal. 
The following descriptions of II. jerdonii, II. robusta, II. 
cyanocincta, II. nigrocincta, H. chloris, II. coronata, II. stricticollis, 
H. curta, are all from Gunther. 
The descriptions of the new species, If crassicollis, II. tuber¬ 
culata, II. fayreriana are by Dr. Anderson, Curator of the 
Indian Museum. 
I have received from Mr. Stewart, B.M.S., Civil Surgeon, 
Pooree, the following valuable collection of Hydrophidce, 
among which are two other new species, named by Dr. Ander¬ 
son, to whom I am also indebted for their description, Ilydro- 
pliis stewartii, after Mr. Stewart, and Hydrophis nigra. 
Lengths. 
Hydrophis viperina, Schmidt .30" 
*H. crassicollis, Anderson (?).56" 5"' 
H. gracilis, Shaw .34" 
H. chloris, Daudin .38" 
H. lindsayi, Gray .27" 3"' 
H. cantoris. Gray .20" 3"' 
H. jerdonii, Gray .36" 
( IP. spiralis, Shaw, var.: ) Dr. Anderson is doubtful 
f l H. spiralis, Shaw (22") j about this species. 
H. stewartii (n. s.), Anderson .3S" 3'" 
H. nigra (n. s.), Anderson .19" 
Enhydrina valakadyen, JBoie. 
The above, with a fine specimen of Chersydrus granulatus, 
Schneider, an innocent aquatic snake, were all caught or picked 
up, or thrown on the beach, on the coast near Pooree, Cuttack, 
Bay of Bengal. 
Hydrophis jerdonii. 
ITydrus nigrocinctus, var., Cantor. 
Kerilia jerdonii, Gray. 
“ Head short, with the snout declivous and rather pointed ; 
body of moderate length. Frontal shields small, not much 
larger than prae-ocular; one post-ocular; five upper labial 
shields, the third and fourth of which enter the orbit, the last 
below the post-ocular; two or three large temporals on the 
side of each occipital, the anterior of which enters the labial 
margin behind the fifth labial shield. Two pairs of chin-shields, 
in contact with one another. Scales imbricate, large, higher 
than long, with the apex slightly truncated; each scale with a 
strong keel; they are disposed in fifteen or seventeen series 
* This appears to he a variety, as the first large temporal shield takes the place 
of the seventh labial, which is distinct in the type and large, 
f This is a characteristic specimen. 
round the neck, and in nineteen or twenty-one in the middle 
of the body. Ventral shields distinct, hut not twice as large as 
the scales of the adjoining series, bituberculate 235-238 in 
number. Anal shields small ; terminal scale of the tail large. 
A series of seven simple teeth behind the grooved fang in front. 
Trunk with from thirty-four to thirty-eight black cross bands, 
broadest on the back and extending to the belly in young and 
half-grown specimens.” 
Hydrophis robusta. 
Hydrophis nigrocincta, Schley.; Fischer. 
“ Head of moderate size and width ; neck and body not 
elongate. Two or three upper labials below the orbit ; one 
post-ocular; anterior temporal shield large ; two pairs of chin- 
shields, which are in contact with one another. Thirty-one 
series of scales round the neck. Scales slightly imbricate, each 
with a subcentral tubercle ; those on the highest part of the 
body are rounded or subtruncated behind, as high as long. 
Ventrals twice or thrice as broad as the scales of the adjoining 
series, smooth, 310 in number. Terminal scale of the tail 
rather large. Trunk with thirty-five narrow, distant, black 
rings, extending round the belly, sometimes interrupted on the 
side and dilated on the back; head without markings in the 
adult; throat and belly whitish. 
“ This snake, of which we have examined two adult examples, 
6 feet long, is found on the coasts of the mainland of India 
as well as in the Archipelago. It has been confounded with 
other species by all the previous herpetologists. The figure 
given by Fischer is very recognisable.” 
Hydrophis cyanocincta. The Chittul. 
Hydrophis cyanocinctus, Baud. 
Leioselasme stride, Lacep. 
Hydrophis striata, Schley. 
„ subkevis, Gray. 
„ subannulata. Gray. 
Hydrus striatus, Cantor. 
“ Head of moderate size and width ; neck and body rather 
elongate; generally two labial shields below the eye; two 
post-oculars (exceptionally confluent into one) ; two or more 
temporal shields on the side of each occipital. Two pairs of 
chin-sliields, the anterior of which are in contact with each 
other. Twenty-nine to thirty-three series of scales round the 
neck. Scales slightly imbricate, rhombic, faintly keeled, those 
on the highest part of the body rather longer than high. Ven¬ 
trals 320-360— 406-426, twice or thrice as large as the scales 
of the adjoining series ; almost all are entire, not longitudinally 
divided, and bitubercular ; four anal shields, the outer of 
which are larger than the inner ; terminal scale of the tail 
rather small, or of moderate size. Greenish olive on the back, 
yellowish on the sides and belly; trunk with from fifty to 
seventy-five black cross bands, which are broadest on the back, 
and broader than the interspaces of the ground colour; they 
are narrower on the sides, sometimes disappearing altogether 
with age on the sides and belly, or visible only as irregular 
spots on the ventral shields. In young and half-grown speci¬ 
mens they surround the body entirely, and are sometimes 
joined by a black band running along the whole line of the 
ventral shields. The head is greenish olive above and yellowish 
on the sides ; in the young black, variegated with yellow, the 
yellow colour sometimes forming a frontal and temporal 
band. 
“ This is one of the commonest sea-snakes, occurring on the 
Coasts of Ceylon, Madras, in the Bay of Bengal, in the East 
Indian Archipelago, and in the seas of China and Japan. It 
attains to a length of more than 6 feet. Old males have a 
remarkably thick and rounded tail/’ 
