HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 



325 



Description (figs. 277-278). — Adult male; U.S.N.M. No. 31874; 

 Kochi, Shikoku; May, 1902; Dr. H. M. Smith, collector. Rostral 

 visible from above, much broader than high; internasals about as 

 broad as long, smaller than prefrontals which are in contact with 

 supraocular; frontal as long as its distance from rostral and as the 

 interparietal suture, much broader in front than behind; parietals 

 longer than distance of rostral from tip of snout, much narrowed and 

 pointed behind; nostril large, rounded, between two subecjual nasals; 

 loreal longer than high; one preocular, not in contact with frontal; 

 one subpreocular; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 3 ; supralabials eight, 

 seventh largest, fourth and fifth entering eye; four lower labials in 

 contact with anterior chin-shields, which are of about the same 

 length as the posterior; 23 rows of scales, most of which are distinctly 



Figs. C77-278.— Elaphe climacophora. 2 X nat. size. 277, top of head; 278, side of head. No. 



30551. U.S.N.M. 



keeled, but outer two rows, at least, perfectly smooth; 228 ventrals; 

 anal divided; 111 pairs of subcaudals; the ventrals angularly bent 

 laterally. Color (in alcohol) dark umber browai above w^ith four 

 somewhat obscure darker longitudinal bands, the lower ones occupying 

 four scale rows, viz, second to fifth, the upper ones tliree rows, viz, 

 eighth, ninth, and tenth; head uniform, with a blackish oblique band 

 from eye backward to the edge of the lip crossing and occupying the 

 whole of the last supralabial; other supralabials pale, lower labials 

 and throat whitish; rest of underside bluish slate gray, the ventrals 

 pale-edged behind and with the lateral angle marked by a narrow 

 longitudinal line. 



Dimensions. 



mm. 



Total lengtli 1, 365 . 



Snout to vent 1, 040 



Vent to tip of tail 325 



