412 



BULLETIN 58, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



there are two imsymmetrical shields detached from the left internasal, 

 as shown m fig. 331. 



The variation in color and ])attern has been referred to alcove (pp. 410 

 and 411). 



Habitat. — Thus far this species has been recordetl from only two 

 disconnected areas very far apart, namely, from the Malay Archipelago 

 (Amboina, according to Peters, and the type from the "Moluccas") 

 and the Riu Kius in the west and from the Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga 

 (Friendly) islands, the neighboring isolated Savage Island, and possi- 

 bly the Society Islands in the east. No specimen from the interven- 

 ing seas have been recorded, so far as I know. 



In the Riu Kius this species appears to be common, as it can scarcely 

 be doubted that this is the species of which Doederlein speaks as 

 Platurus fasciatus, and which according to him is caught in consider- 

 able numbers at Erabu sliima, in the northern group, so numerous in 

 fact that the snake takes its name, Erabu-unagi, from that island, 

 whence it is shipped to Japan to be used as a medicine. The Rogers 

 Expedition brought home three specimens from Yoko shima (Cleo- 

 patra Island), which lies between the Tokara (Linschoten) group and 

 Amami-o-shima, where Doederlein collected it. The Imperial 

 Museum in Tokyo has specimens from Okinawa shima, where Doctor 

 Warburg and Fryer's collector also obtained it. Doctor Wall men- 

 tions 29 specimens collected at Mi^^ako shima. Finally, I have 

 examined a specimen in the Hamburg Museum (No. 2633), collected 

 by Doctor Lenz in Iriomote shima of the Yaeyama group. 

 List of specimens of Laticauda semifasciata. 



a Description p. 410. 



6 Probably "No. v-198. Hydrophisf Taken off the south end of Loo Choo, December, 1854, )iy 

 Captain Rodgors" of Stimpson's MS. Catalogue. In the Museum register the entry is only as above. 

 cFigs. 331-333. 

 d Fischer, 1888; p. 18. 



