512 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Sept., 



Major Wall mentions two specimens as having tiie last ventral 

 shield divided. This condition seems to be prevalent to a marked 

 degree in Asiatic Elapidse. 



The local name aka-mata, signifying ''red-death", is a simple 

 reference to the color and the dangerous nature of the beast. The 

 mata element of the phrase is the Malayo-Polynesian root form mean- 

 ing "death", and is used in this connection from Madagascar in the 

 west to Hawaii in the east. 



Calliophis macclellandii (Rcinhardt). 



Type. — Calliophis swinhoei Denburgh.^ 



California Acad. Sci., No. 14,978. Suishako, Central Formosa. 

 Female; total length 220, tail 20 mm. 



This synonym is based upon a specimen that was purchased from 

 a dealer in Japan. The description or the type does not mention any 

 character by which it may be distinguished from a normal Calliophis 

 macclellandii; the diagnosis, which is an epitome of the description, 

 reads, "Similar to Calliophis macclellandii, but with more numerous 

 gastrosteges and urosteges; the sum of the gastrosteges and urosteges 

 always more than 256." 



The distribution of Calliophis macclellandii is from northern India 

 to Formosa. It belongs to a group in which a particularly wide 

 range in the number of vertebrae frequently occurs in the same species. 

 If the records be tabulated, one may see at a glance the following 

 data: 



Gastrosteges: 



Range in 17 specimens .' 182-240 



Range in 12 from mainland 182-231 



Range in 5 from Formosa 219-240 



Overlapping of mainland and island specimens: 



In terms of gastrosteges 12 



In percentage of range 20.6% 



Urosteges : 



Range in 17 specimens 25-41 



Range in 12 from mainland 25-36 



Range in 5 from Formosa 32-41 



Overlapping of mainland and island specimens: 



In terms of gastrosteges : 5 



In percentage of range 30% 



S1912, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci., (4), Vol. Ill, p. 255. 



