HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 369 



centers; alternating with these cross-bars there is a series of lateral 

 blackish spots mostly on the four outer scale rows and more or less 

 connected with an irregular series of single or double spots on the 

 upturned ends of the ventrals; nape black with two yellowish spots 

 on the outer posterior angle of the parietals and the adjacent scales; 

 top of head blackish with ill-defined yellowish markings; sides of 

 head yellowish, most of the shields, including the supralabials, nar- 

 rowly edged with blackish; underside uniform pale yellowish, that of 

 the tail with irregular blackish brown spots medially. 



Dimensions. 



mm. 



Total length 880 



Snout to vent 690 



Vent to tip of tail 190 



The younger specimen, Sci. Coll. Mus., Tokyo, No. 10, is essentially 

 like the adult. It grows to a considerable size, as a specimen from 

 0-shima with defective tail measures 1,510 mm. in length. 



Variation. — This snake does not seem to be subject to great vari- 

 ation, as the only abnormalities in the specimens recorded are two 

 posterior temporals on both sides in one, nine supralabials on one 

 side in another specimen and only two supralabials, namely, fourth 

 and fifth, touching the eye in a third specimen. The ventrals vary 

 between 211 and 234, and the subcaudals between 92 and 105 in the 

 perfect specimens on record. The lowest extreme of the latter is 

 given by Boulenger as 65, but this figure is derived from Hallowdl's 

 account of the type of Lepidocephalus fasciatus in which, however, 

 the tail is mutilated. 



Habitat. — Both the Perry Expedition and the Rodgers Expedition 

 brought home specimens of this species, those from the latter being 

 said to hail from ' Mapan' ' in contradistinction to the former as being 

 from the Riu Kius, but as shown above this statement is undoubtedly 

 erroneous. Later collectors, including Mr. Tashiro, have also obtained 

 it in Okinawa shima, and in British Museum there is a specimen from 

 ''Oho shima" collected by Lieut. A. Carpenter, R. N., from which 

 island Mr. Nakagawa also brought a specimen in 1891 to the Science 

 College Museum. Recently other specimens from Okinawa shima 

 and Amami-o-shima have been recorded by Dr. Wall. 



In the National Museum, Ueno Park, Tokyo, there is a specimen 

 (No. 23) of this species said to be from the province of Hiuga, southern 

 Kiusiu. If the locality given is correct, it is the only record of the 

 species in Japan proper, but the occurence there needs confirmation. 



26485— No. 58—07 24 



