HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 



339 



length as nasal but lower; one preocular widely separated from frontal; 

 two postoculars, upper largest; temporals 1 +2, large, with straight 

 edges; 8 supralabials, fourth and fifth entering eye, seventh largest, 

 sixth nearly triangular; four lower labials in contact with anterior 

 chin-shields, which are longer than posterior; 15 rows of smooth 

 scales; 163 ventrals, not angulate laterally; anal divided; 86 pairs of 

 subcaudals. Color (in alcohol) above blue, in life bright green; 

 under side white or, in life, yellow. 



Diinnisions. 



mm. 



Total length 684 



Snout to vent 506 



Vent to tip of tail 178 



A young specimen from the province of Fokien, China, is described 

 by Boulenger" as having irregular black transverse spots on the 

 nape and anterior part of the back, and traces of an interrupted 

 black lateral streak. 



287 



289 



Figs. 287-289.— Liopeltis majok. 2 X NAT. size. 287, top of head; 288, side of head; 289 undep- 

 siDE OF head. No. 733.5, U.S.N.M. 



Variation. — Boulenger describes this species as having a divided 

 nasal, but I can not make out any such division in our specimen. 

 Doctor Wall mentions a specimen having seven labials, with the third 

 and fourth touching the eye on one side. Ventrals range between 163 

 and 177; subcaudals between 70 and 90. 



Habitat. — Apparently restricted to the lower Yangtse Valley and 

 coasts of eastern China, between Hongkong and Shanghai, as well as 

 to Formosa, from which island Swinhoe brought four specimens to 

 British Museum. Doctor Wall saw two additional specimens from 

 Formosa in the Hongkong City Hall Museum. In the Chinese 

 province of Fokien it has been found as high as 3,000 to 4,000 feet 

 altitude. 



oProc. Zool. Soc. London, 1899, p. 165. 



