HYPKOPHIDiE. 
29 
I. “ With Scales more or Jess Distinctly Imbricate. 
*(b.) “ Scales much imbricate, rather small, in forty-three to forty- 
seven series round the neck ; ventral shields split into two. Hydrus. 
{Shaw.) Gray.” 
Hydrophis stokesii. 
“ Body stout.” 
(c.) “ Scales in twenty-three to thirty-eight series round the neck ; 
head not very small; anterior part of the body {neck) not, or 
moderately slender. Hydrophis. {Daud.) Gunther.” 
Hydrophis major. 
“ Head rather short and broad ; neck and body of moderate 
length. One post-ocular. Belly with only a few ventral 
shields.” 
H. C2ERULESCENS. 
“ Head rather small ; neck and body somewhat elongate. 
One post-ocular; scales strongly keeled. Ventrals not much 
larger than the adjoining scales.” 
H. ASPERA. 
“ Head of moderate size and width; neck and body some¬ 
what elongate. Two post-oculars ; scales strongly keeled, the 
keel of each scale with two tubercular prominences.” 
H. SPIRALIS. 
“ Head of moderate size and width; neck and body some¬ 
what elongate. One post-ocular. Back with a series of round 
black spots, alternating with black cross bands.” 
H. SUBCINCTA. 
“Head rather small and narrow; neck slender. Two post¬ 
oculars ; twenty-three series of scales round the neck. Yentrals 
not twice as large as the adjoining scales. Trunk with forty- 
one cross bands.” 
H. TORQUATA. 
“ Head rather small; neck slender. One post-ocular; thirty- 
three to thirty-five series of scales round the neck; vertical 
short. ♦ 
(d.) “ Head very small; neck exceedingly slender. Liopala. 
{Gray). Gunther.” 
H. LINDSAYI. 
“ The length of the thin part of the body is one-third of the 
total. One post-ocular; thirty-one to thirty-three series of 
scales round the neck. Trunk with from forty-eight to fifty- 
eight blackish cross bands extending to the middle of the 
side.” 
H. LATIFASCIATA. 
“ One post-ocular; twenty-three series of scales round the 
neck. Trunk with thirty-eight broad black cross bands, con¬ 
fluent on the back and belly.” 
H. DIADEMA. 
“ Two post-oculars ; thirty-three series of scales round the 
neck. Trunk with sixty-two blackish rings.” 
* Group (a) contains one species, H. jerdonii, already described, p. 26. 
II. “ With scales not imbricate, placed Side by Side. 
(a.) “ Head very small; neck exceedingly slender. Microcepha- 
lophis. {Less.) Gray.” 
H. GRACILIS. 
“ One post-ocular. Ventral shields 228-294, those on the 
hinder half of the body split into two.” 
H. I'ASCIATA. 
“ Two post-oculars. Ventral shields 316, all undivided.” 
H. CANTORIS. 
“One post-ocular. Ventral shields 412-440, those on the 
hinder half of the body split into two.” 
(b.) “Head of moderate size; anterior part of the body not, or 
moderately elongate. Thalassophis. {Schmidt). Gunther.” 
H. LAPEMOIDES. 
“ Head narrow, elongate; body rather slender. Two post¬ 
oculars. Ventral shields twice as broad as the adjoining scales, 
350 in number.” 
H. LONGICEPS. 
“ Head narrow, elongate ; body rather slender. Two post¬ 
oculars. Ventral shields twice as broad as the adjoining scales, 
271 in number. Scales keeled.” 
H. ORNATA. 
“Head rather narrow, and produced; body somewhat elongate. 
Two post-oculars. Ventral shields twice as broad as the ad¬ 
joining scales, 252-260 in number. Scales with a central 
tubercle. The first upper temporal shield much longer than 
high.” 
H. ELLIOTTI. 
“ Head rather thick and short; body of moderate length. 
Two post-oculars. Ventral shields nearly twice as broad as the 
adjoining scales, 253-258 in number The first upper temporal 
shield is not much longer than high; thirty-five or thirty-seven 
series of scales round the neck.” 
H. PACHYCERCUS. 
“ Head and body of moderate width and length. Two post- 
oculars ; nasal shields longer than broad. Ventrals more than 
twice as broad as the scales, 258 in number. The first upper 
temporal shield longer than high; twenty-eight series of scales 
round the neck.” 
H. VIPERINA. 
“ Head of moderate size and width ; body of moderate length. 
Two post-oculars; nasal shields as broad posteriorly as they are 
long; anterior ventral shields broad.” 
H. HARDWICKII. 
“ Head short and thick ; body stout. One post-ocular. No 
distinct ventral shields. Trunk with from forty-one to forty- 
three blackish cross bands, not extending downwards to the 
belly.” 
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