28 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA 
their continuations on the ventral aspect follow a similar ar¬ 
rangement. Six black rings on the tail, confluent below; the 
latter third entirely black. 
“ Hooghly below Calcutta. Length (total) 4 feet 5" 
tail 4" 3"'. 
“ The peculiarity of this species is its elongated body, the 
uniform breadth which it preserves throughout its length, and 
the enlarged and smooth ventrals.” It is found in the tidal 
streams near Calcutta. 
Htdrophis tuberculata (n. s.), Anderson. 
“ Head slightly broader than the neck and of moderate 
length. Neck not very slender. Rostral broader than high. 
Fourth and fifth labials below the eye ; one prse-ocular, and two 
post-oculars. Three to four temporals along the side of each 
occipital, the anterior one the largest, and almost entering the 
labial margin. The nasals are large and quadrangular, and 
much larger than the frontals, which are rounded behind. The 
vertical is emarginate and much smaller than the elongated 
occipitals. All the shields of the head, including the lower 
labials and the scales in the immediate vicinity of the head, are 
thickly studded over with minute granules. Thirty-eight rows 
of slightly imbricate scales round the neck, each scale with two 
prominent tubercles, one before the other. Ventrals 321, small, 
about twice the size of the adjoining scales, irregular, sometimes 
dividing, those on the fore part of the body largest. Each 
ventral with several minute tubercles on either side. Four 
anal shields, the external the largest. Terminal scale of tail 
moderately large, tuberculated at its base. Trunk encircled 
by 59 black bands, 8 black bars on the tail. The bands are 
broadest and blackest on the back, contracting on the sides 
into narrow indistinct lines, continued on to the ventral surface. 
Ground-colour olive-yellow above, bright gamboge-yellow below. 
A dark olive patch on the crown of the head, with a pale yel¬ 
lowish band from orbit to orbit, and passing backwards through 
the temporals to the neck. An obscure dark line through the 
upper labials, which are yellowish. Length, 49 inches. 
“ Hab. Tidal streams, Calcutta. 
“ This species is very closely allied to If. granosa, from which 
it is separated by the small number of scales round the neck, 
by its two post-oculars and two pairs of large chin-shields, and 
by differences in the form of the shields of the head.” 
Htdrophis eayreriana (n. s.), Anderson. 
“Head short and thick; snout broad and rounded. Body 
moderately long and stout, of nearly equal breadth throughout, 
narrower on the anterior fifth. Frontal shields large, tapering, 
about the same size as the nasals. One prse-ocular, small, its 
broadest end pointing forwards ; one post-ocular. Seven upper 
labials, the fifth the largest, the sixth and seventh labials with 
a shield above them, suggesting that they are only detached 
portions of a large sixth labial. Third and fourth labials en- 
tering the orbit, oblong, higher than broad, the first pair of 
lower labials meeting behind the chin-shield, with a number of 
scale-like shields behind them. Thirty-four rows of smooth, 
non-imbricated and non-tuberculated scales round the neck. 
Those on the ventral surface larger than those on the back 
sides, but no distinct row of enlarged ventrals ; the median 
rows, however, are slightly imbricate, and number 193 from the 
throat to the anus. Five pairs of small prse-anal shields. Thirty- 
nine series of broad, olive-brown, cross bands on the back, ex¬ 
tending to the sides, but not into the belly, and rounded below, 
separated by narrow pale lines, about half a scale’s breadth. 
Tail olive-brown above, black on its lower third. Length 
30J inches, tail 3-J inches, gape f inch. 
“ Hab. Pooree, Cuttack coast.” 
This species appears to be closely allied to Id. hardioickii, 
from which it is distinguished by the absence of tubercles, in 
the adult, by the partial imbrication of the middle rows of 
ventral scales, and b} r their greater number. 
Hydropiiis nigra (n. s.), Anderson. 
“ Neck but moderately slender, less than two-thirds the 
length of body. Head broader than neck, long with nearly 
straight sides, the prae-orbital equalling the temporal breadth. 
Snout moderately long, broad, rounded, and rather spatulate. 
Rostral much broader than high, its posterior extremity being 
on a line with the rostro-labial suture : feebly notched on its 
inferior margin. Nasals broader posteriorly than they are long. 
The third labial not in contact with the nasal, and it is almost 
excluded from the orbit by the fourth labial and prse-ocular. 
One post-ocular. The fifth and sixth labials transversely 
divided. Two temporals, of which the anterior is the larger. 
Two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior in contact, the shields 
of the posterior pair separated by an azygos scale. Thirty- 
two rows of scales round the body, slightly imbricate 
and smooth. Ventrals forty-eight; the first twenty-five 
or so six times as large as the adjoining scales, which 
are rather small; the remainder diminish in size, but nearly 
all are distinct and undivided. Three pairs of anal-shields, of 
which the outer are the largest. 
“ Uniform intense black, without any trace of markings. 
Length 19", of which the tail is 2". Length of snout to 
occiput 0" 7'". Breadth across angle of mouth 0" 4"'. 
Breadth before eyes 0" 4"'. Breadth on a line with 
nasal suture 0" 3"'. Snout to eye 0" 3'". Eye to angle 
of mouth two and a half lines. Angle of jaw to tip of 
snout 0" 8'". 
“hoc. Pooree, Cuttack.” 
Hydropiiis stewartii (n. s.), Anderson. 
“ The neck moderately long and slender, and the head rather 
short and not much broader than the neck. The remainder of 
the body very much compressed. Rostral considerably broader 
than high. The nasals as broad posteriorly as they are long. 
The third and fourth labials enter the orbit, the former not 
being in contact with the nasal. Three temporals, the anterior 
the largest. Two post-oculars. Vertical much pointed behind. 
Occipitals long and narrow. Two almost quadrangular chin- 
shields in contact with each other. Thirty-three rows of scales 
round the neck. The scales hexagonal, not imbricate, with a 
feeble central tubercle. Ventrals 387, smooth. The first forty 
on the neck about four times as large as the adjoining scales, 
those behind them being small and narrow as they are traced 
backwards, and hardly discernible on the last six inches of the 
trunk. Two pairs of small scale-like anals. Tail broad, 
markedly dilating from its root. Lips yellowish. Upper sur¬ 
face of head and upper surface of neck and trunk greenish- 
olive. Under surface of head and sides and under surface of 
neck and trunk salmon-coloured. Fifty-seven very obscure 
darker olive, almost black bars on the dorsal area of the neck 
and compressed portion, but not extending on to the light- 
coloured sides. The tail greenish-olive, mottled, and tipped 
with black. 
“ Length 38" 3'", of which the tail constitutes 2" 8"'. Girth 
round neck, two inches behind head, 2" W". Greatest depth of 
body (five inches before tail) 1" 8'". Greatest thickness at that 
point 0" 6"'. Thickness at upper margin of lower third in 
same locality 0" 3"'. Thickness at ventral margin at same 
situation 0" 2"'. Snout to occiput 0" 11"'. Breadth across 
angle of mouth 0" 7'". 
“ Loc. Pooree, Cuttack.” 
The following species are also briefly described in Gunther’s 
Synopsis. They are found in the Indian Seas or on the coast:— 
