HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 323 



me now (No. 5, Sci. Coll. Tokyo, figs. 275-276) the outer nine scale 

 rows are smooth, but the seven middle ones have distinct though 

 feeble keels. This specimen measures as follows : 



Uimensions. 



mm. 



Total length t, 870 



Snout to vent 1, 445 



Vent to tip of tail 425 



The type as recorded by Doctor Boettger measures 2,080 mm., in 

 total length, of wliich 445 belong to the tail. This species conse- 

 (|uently grows to a considerable size. 



Variation. — Very much as in Elaphe tseniurus, though the range 

 between the extremes of the number of ventrals and subcaudals is 

 much less, as might be expected from the much more restricted 

 habitat. 



In most specimens the preocular is not in contact with the frontal, 

 but in the Hamburg Museum specimen these two shields touch on 



275 



Figs. 275-276.— Elaphe schmackeri. Nat. size. 275, top of head; 276, sjde of head. No. 5, Sci. 



Coll. Tokyo. 



the right side, and in the specimen before me (No. 5) they practically 

 touch on both sides. In the type, on the contrary, they are widely 

 separated. 



A single anal is found in No. 89, Science College Museum, and in 

 this the lower temporals of both rows are consolidated so as to make 

 only 2 + 2 temporals, but normally they are 2 + 3 



In the Hamburg Museum specimen there are 10 supralabials and 

 the Ishigaki shima specimen recorded by Dr. Wall has ten on one 

 side. 



Habitat. — So far as known, this form of E. tseniurus is confined to 

 the southern group of the Riu Kius. The type in Museum Sencken- 

 bergianum is supposed to be from Miyakoshima, from which island 



