HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 27 



less than twice the width of tlie upper eyelid; distance from tip of 

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

 to anterior border of vent; limbs rather short, fingers and toes when 

 laid against the body not meeting by about two costal folds; fingers 

 and toes motlerate, somewhat depressed, without webs; fifth toe well 

 developed, about size of thud finger, but slightly shorter than first 

 toe; tail very short, its length from anterior end of vent only one-half 

 the distance from the same point to tip of snout, subcylindcical, 

 becoming compressed only a short distance from the tip, no keel 

 above or below; skm everywhere smooth and glossy with numerous 

 minute pits all over; fourteen distinct costal grooves including the 

 axillar and inguinal ones; a median dorsal groove ; parotoid gland fiat, 

 large, distinct, with a sharp, rounded upper edg?; a distinct groove 

 from eye to parotoid; gular fold strong; vent (female) a single longi- 

 turdinal slit, borders not swollen. Color (in alcohol) pale cinnamon- 

 rufous above, on sides and underneath gradually fading to pale pink- 

 ish buff, everywhere densely marbled and clouded with dusky, the 

 markmgs being larger and coarse on the upper surface. 



Dimensions. 



mm. 



Total length 80 



Tip of snout to anterior border of vent 57 



Anterior l)order of vent to tip of tail. . . : 29 



Tip of snout to gular fold 14 



"Width of head 10 



Long diameter of eye 3 



Fore leg 12 



Hind leg 15 



Width of tail at middle 5 



Height of tail at middle G 



The 7nale is said to have the vent consisting of a longitudinal slit 

 "with a small papilla and a short transverse slit anteriorl3^" 



Variation. — The length of the tail in the specimens measured by me 

 varies to such an extent that I am not quite sure we here have to deal 

 with only one species. The coloration also is very different in differ- 

 ent specimens, and gives rise to similar doubts. But, unfortunately, 

 the variation in the ratio between the length of the tail and that of the 

 head and body is so gradual, as shown in the table below, that I do not 

 see my way clear to draw^ a line, while on the other hand the two 

 specimens with the greatest difference in tail proportion agree in color 

 and differ from the specimens with intermediate proportions. The 

 relative wddth and height of the tail is similarly varied, and is equally 

 unsuited to furnish a demarcation line. One of the specimens, the one 

 in the Science College, Tokyo, collection, has thirteen costal grooves, 

 the others have fourteen. 



