HERPETC^LOGY OF JAPAN. 237 



lar, forming a broad band ; gulars large granules posteriorly, merging 

 into large, pointed, keeled scales, covering the hnver neck and collar, 

 about 26 granules and scales on the median line between second pair of 

 chin-shields and collar; six rows of ventral plates, each strongly keeled 

 and somewdiat pointed, especially those in front and behind, 26 on the 

 median line between collar and preanal ])late; a series of somewhat 

 enlarged, keeled scales on each side of the abdoinen, separated from 

 the outer row of ventral plates by two or three rows of smaller keeled 

 scales or granules; preanal plate large, with two keels, with a small 

 keeled scale on each side; a single inguinal pore on each side; legs long, 

 extended foreleg reaching the shoulder; tail three and a third times 

 as long as head and body together, swollen at base, tapering nearly 

 to a point, and covered above and below with strongly keeled scales, 

 larger than the largest dorsals, about four of the former corresponding 

 to six of the latter. Color (in alcohol) above greenish slate (in life 

 said to be ''emerald-green"); a narrow black line from middle of lores 

 tlu'ough eye and over low^er temporal region, through ear to shoulder, 

 bordering above a bright yellow stripe on the upper labials, through 

 lower part of ear over shoulder and on the sides to the anterior side of 

 the femur, following the enlarged series of scales on the flanks; yellow 

 stripe continued behind femur on sides of basal portion of tail ; under 

 side greenish yellow, the green occupying lower half of subocular and 

 labial behind it. 



Dimensiuiis. 



mm. 



Total length 150 



Snout to vent 45 



Yent to tip of tail 105 



Snout to collar 16 



Snout to posterior edge of occipital 12 



Greatest width of head 5. 5 



Fore leg 17 



Hind leg 23 



The female (U.S.N.M. No. 16360; same locality and collector) dif- 

 fers in having the preanal shield divided so that each half forms a 

 large, strongly keeled scale, which is pointed behind; the base of the 

 tail tapering, not swollen. 



Variation. — The characters of this species are fairly constant. 

 Thus far three pairs of chin-shields and one inguinal pore have been 

 found in all the specimens examined. The small shield between the 

 first supraocular and th-e loreal is not always present, and judging 

 from Boidenger's original descrii)tion the series of graiudes sei)arating 

 the supraoculars from (he superciliaries is not always com}>lete. The 

 number of longit^idinal dorsal scale rows is rather variable. In two 

 of the specimens examined by me (male from Okinawa and female 

 from Miyakoshima) there were four large rows on each side with two 

 small ones between, while one (female from Okinawa) has three large 



