HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 33 



The exact locality of the type-specimen is unknown, but a specimen 

 in the Hamburo; Museum (No. 1020), collected by T. Lenz in 1896 in 

 Yamato, shows that the species is Japanese. Thanks to the kindness 

 of the authorities of the British Museum, I have had the opportunity 

 to examine the type. As stated by Boulenger, the fifth toe is quite 

 rudimentary, even more so than in H. licJienatus. It has nothing to 

 do with the latter species, however, as it has thirteen costal grooves, 

 longer series of vomerine teeth, and a cylindric tail. This latter charac- 

 ter places it near to //. nsevius. The chief difference from the latter in 

 the shape of the tail consists in its being slightly longer, and the ter- 

 minal portion more compressed and pointed. The vomerine dental 

 series is also shorter, and in //. nsevius the fifth toe is well developed. 



Having nothing further to add to Boulenger's original description, 

 it is here reproduced. 



Original description of type specimen. — Adult male; British Museum; 

 China or Japan; A. Adams, collector. The length of the palatine 

 series, from anterior border to posterior angle, equals half the width 

 of tongue; head depressed, longer than broad; snout short, rounded; 

 eyes rather large, prominent; no labial lobes; body cylindrical, 

 slightly depressed, nearly four times the length of the head; the 

 distance from snout to gular fold three times in the distance from 

 latter to cloaca; limbs moderate, not meeting when adpressed; fin- 

 gers and toes more elongate than in the preceding species; fifth toe 

 rudimentar}", tubercle -like; carpal and tarsal tubercles indistinct; 

 tail shorter than head and body, strongly compressed and keeled in 

 its posterior half, ending in a point; vent (of male) three slits meet- 

 ing in front, the median longitudinal and longest, the two others 

 obliquely directed forward, forming an angle; the borders not swol- 

 len; skin smooth; thirteen costal grooves; a median dorsal groove; 

 parotoids indistinct; gular fold distinct; no fold from eye to gular 

 fold. Reddish brown above, speckled and minutely marbled with 

 dark brown; tail dark brown, with lichen -like gray variegation; 

 yellowish brown beneath; belly speckled with lighter. 



Di7r}ensions. 



mm. 



Total length 109 



From snout to rl( )aca 59 



Head '__ 12 



Width of head 9 



Fore limb 15 



Hind limb 17 



Tail 50 " 



Habitat. — As already stated, the exact locality where Mr. Adams 

 collected the unique specimen which Boulenger described and figured 



oBoulenger, Cat. Batr. Grad. Brit. Mus., 1882, p. 33. 

 26485 No. 58—07 3 



