HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 



417 



The number of scale rows varies between 17 and 19, though the 

 former seems to be the normal number; ventrals between 134 and 

 143, subcaudals between 23 and 28. 



A specimen in British Museum, as previously mentioned (p. 414), 

 has the outer prefrontals fused with the inner ones. 



Since the above was written Doctor Wall has reported upon six 

 examples obtained by Mr. Owston's collectors in Okinawa. Four 

 had a sharp spine on the rostral, which was absent on the other two. 

 The prefrontals were very irregular. There were four in three speci- 

 mens, two in one specimen, and three (2 right, 1 left) in two speci- 

 mens. In all one or both parietals were split by a suture behind. 

 The' scales were 1 7 in mid-body when the vertebral row was enlarged, 

 which was usually the case, though often to a variable degree. In 

 two specimens the scales were 19, the vertebrals being divided into 

 three rows subequal to the other dorsals. Ventrals numbered 138 

 to 143. 



Habitat. — This species is only known from the "Riu Kiu Sea," 

 where Tashiro collected the gravid female in 1888, and from Botel 

 Tobago Island, east of the south end of Formosa. A specimen was 

 caught there on the rocks at ebb tide by Mr. Tsunasuke Tada, May 

 1897. Three specimens obtained by Mr. A. Owston's collector, on 

 Ishigaki Island of the Yaeyama group, during the month of May, 

 1899, are now in the United States National Museum, and two are in 

 British Museum, one from Yaeyama Island and one from Iriomote. 

 Doctor Wall now records six specimens from Okinawa. 



List of specimens of Emydoce phalli s ijivix. 



a Type, p. 416. 

 26485— No. 58—07 27 



b Description, p. 414; figs. 334-337. 



