HEKPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 



399 



anal entire; 46 undivided subcaudals. Color (in alcohol) above 

 dark seal brown with 45 narrow whitish cross lines or bars, 31 on the 

 body and 14 on the tail, about one scale mde on the back, widening 

 near the belly so as to equal two of the outer scale rows, the light- 

 colored lateral scales often with a median dark line; head uniform 

 dark, somewhat paler on laluals; underside whitish more or less 

 clouded with l)rown, and the dark brown of the sides descending on 

 the body over the ends of the corresponding ventrals, while forming 

 continuous, though somewhat irregular, rings on the tail. 



Dimejisions. 



mm. 



Total length 860 



.Snout to vent 743 



Vent to tip of tail 117 



The young (U.S.N.M. Xo. 36514) is essentially like the adult 

 described above, but has a whitish crescentic mark on each side of 

 the neck behind the head. 



This species reaches a length of more than a meter. 



Variation. — The scale formula varies but little though 1+ 1 tem- 

 porals occur besides 1+2. The ventrals vary in this form between 

 198 and 221 , the subcaudals between 44 and 52. 



The variation in coloration has reference chiefly to the number 

 of wliite cross lines. Thus, the adult described above has 45, and 

 the young 51 (40 on body 11 on tail), while as many as 60 have 

 been recorded. 



Habitat. — Southern China, from the provinces of Kiangsi and 

 Fokien to Kw^angtung and Kwangsi. Farther west it has been 

 collected at Toungoo in Lower Burma, by Mr. E. W. Gates. 



In Formosa it was first found by Swinhoe, and Mr. Tashiro has 

 since informed us that it is found both in the northern and southern 

 part of the island. He states that it was common around Taipa, 

 whence he brought two specimens. 



List of spcciinens of Bimyarus multicincius. 



a Sci. Coll. No. 3. b Figs. 325-327; description, p. 398. c Boulcnger. Cat. Ill, p. 369. 



