HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 



299 



extremit}^ of the island, and a fine specimen sent our museum by Rev. 

 Cyrus A. Clark from Miyazaki, toward the southern end of the same 

 island. The one in Museum Senckenbergianum in Frankfort on the 

 Main, which was obtained from Mr. B. Schmacker in 1889 came from 

 the Hakone Mountains in Hondo, and Doctor Wall mentions three 

 specimens in Owston's collection from "Mount Fuji." Two of the 

 latter are now in the United States National Museum (Nos. 34046, 



34047). 



List of specimens of Achaliniis spinalis. 



a Figs. 257-259. 



b Description, p. 297 



e Type; Peters, p. 4.36. 

 d Frontal divided. 



e Namiye, p. 29. 

 / Wall, p. 88. 



SulDfamily HOnMATL-OPSHSr^^E. 



The snakes of this group are apparently closelj^ allied to the Natri- 

 cine snakes, differing chiefly in the presence of grooved fangs at the 

 posterior end of the maxillary. They are even more thoroughly 

 aquatic, having the nostrils on the upper surface of the snout and 

 provided with valves by means of which they can be closed. The 

 head is usually small and thick, scarcely distinct from neck, and the 

 eyes are small mostly with a vertically elliptic pupil ; very often there 

 is only a single internasal shield. 



The Homalopsine snakes are confined to southeastern x4.sia, 

 including India, the Malay Archipelago, Philippines and southern 

 China, New Guinea, and northern Australia. Two genera occur 

 within our limits, inasmuch as two species of the genus Enhydris and 

 one of Hurria have been recorded from Formosa. 



The two genera may be distinguished as follows : 



a^ scales smooth 1. Enhydris, p. 300. 



a''^ scales keeled 2. Hwria, p. 304. 



