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Show 1874.] DR. GtTNTHER ON THE FAUNA OF SAVAGE ISLAND. 297 4. M A B O U I A LAWESII, sp. n. (Plate X L V . fig. A.) Supranasals far apart; postfrontals separated by the vertical, which is produced forward into a point touching the prsefrontal. Only one anterior occipital. Ear-opening without lobules. Scales very small, the body being surrounded by 55 series of scales, and there being 78 scales in a longitudinal series between the axil of the fore leg and the vent. Nine praeanal scales subequal in size. The fore leg, when laid forward, reaches to the nostril. The upper parts are brown, gradually passing into the greenish white of the lower parts. Small dark-brown specks are scattered over the back and sides; but most characteristic are yellowish white spots (each occupying one scale only) with which the back of the body and tail are ornamented. On the trunk they are irregularly distributed, but on the tail they are arranged in more or less regular transverse series. in. lin. Distance of the snout from the ear 0 9 fore leg 1 3 ,, „ vent 3 6 Length of tail 6 0 Total length 9 6 Length of fore leg 1 2 I have named this fine species after the Rev. Mr. Lawes, who has been engaged in improving the condition of the inhabitants of this island since the year 1861. 5. PLATURUS SCHISTORHYNCHUS, sp. n. (Plate XLV. fig. B.) The rostral shield is transversely divided into two, the upper portion forming an azygos shield between the nasals. Another azygos shield between the posterior frontals. Scales of the front part of the trunk in twenty-one longitudinal series. Ventral shields from 190 to 199. Snout and side of the head black, separated from the black crown of the head by a horseshoe-shaped yellow band which sometimes joins the yellow ring round the neck. Body surrounded by about twenty-two black rings, broader than the interspaces. I have examined five examples of this species, all agreeing in the peculiarity of the divided rostral combined with the black snout. This snake appears to be common on the shores of Savage Island, as Mr. Lawes states that it is constantly caught and handled by children and that it never attempts to bite. The discovery of this snake is another instance of the local occurrence of many species of sea-snakes. The figure is of the natural size. A small Scorpion preserved in the same bottles with the Reptiles is, as Mr. Butler informs me, Ischnurus complanatus (Koch). PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1874, No. XX. 20 |
