318 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



snout, much shorter than parietals ; loreal as long as deep ; two preoculars ; 

 three postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2 ; eight upper labials, fourth and fifth enter- 

 ins orbit : five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shields, which are 

 very nearly the same size as the posterior. Eleven dorsal rows of scales keeled, 

 only the dorsal 5 strongly ; scales in nineteen rows anteriorly, in seventeen rows 

 on middle of body, and in fifteen rows near the tail. "Ventrals 153 ; anal divided ; 

 subcaudals in 68 pairs. 



Color olive above, with an indistinct lateral series of dark blotches ; head 

 with a black stripe from posterior border of the orbit to the angle of the jaws ; 

 upper labials with sharp black markings along their posterior edges ; upper lip 

 yellowish ; lower surfaces dull white, confluent dark olive puncticulations form 

 three irregular bands, one along the middle and one on each end of the gas- 

 trosteges ; there are many scattered spots elsewhere, also larger diffuse brown 

 blotches. On the under surface of the tail the dots are irregularly scattered and 

 produce a gray effect. Along the sides of the tail is a white line formed by spots 

 on the outer end of each subcaudal scale. There are no spots on the throat, 

 which is pure white. Length of body 370 mm. ; length of tail 100 mm. 



Type. — No. 7103, Mus. Comp. Zobl., a single specimen, from Mt. Arizan, 

 Central Formosa. Taken 29 November, 1906, by one of Mr. Owston's Japanese 

 collectors. 



This species seems to be, as would be naturally expected, related to P. dorsalis 

 (Giinther) from China. It differs in having two preoculars instead of one, in 

 the number of ventral and subcaudal scales, and in coloration. 



It is a privilege to associate with this interesting new species of a genus 

 hitherto unrecorded from Formosa, the name of a kindly friend and generous 

 helper, Dr. Leonhard Stejneger. 



Holarchus nesiotis, sp. nov. 



Nasal divided; rostral reaching far back above, completely separating the 

 internasals and coming into contact with the prefrontals. Frontal very large, 

 much longer than distance to tip of snout, longer than the parietals. Loreal 

 square ; two pre- and two post-oculars ; temporals 1 + 2, the lower of the two 

 temporals is the smaller, while the opposite is the condition in H. formosanus 

 figured by Stejneger (Herp. of Japan, 1907, p. 355). Eight upper labials on 

 each side, fourth and fifth entering eye; four labials in contact with anterior 

 chin shield, which measure about one and one-third the size of the posterior. 

 Scales in 19 rows, perfectly smooth. Ventrals distinctly angulate, 169 ; anal 

 divided ; subcaudals 56 pairs. 



Color pale brown above, with an indistinct light vertebral line and four 

 dorsal and dorso-lateral longitudinal bands of slightly darker brown. Sides and 

 belly ivory white. On the parietals there are dark brown spots, also a symmet- 

 rical square brown, almost black, blotch below the eye on supralabials 5 and 6. 

 A chevron-like band on the nape with its apex directed forward. 



