HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 



355 



seventh, and eighth largest, fourth and fifth entering eye; three lower 

 labials in contact with anterior chin-shields, which are much longer 

 than posterior; 19 rows of perfectly smooth scales; 167 ventrals, 

 strongl}^ angulate laterally; anal undivided; 46 pairs of subcaudals. 

 Color (in alcohol) above pale dral) with numerous narrow and serrate 

 chocolate-brown crossbars dissolved laterally into small spots; a 

 somewhat indistinct longitudinal, median whitish stripe more or less 

 interrupted by the dorsal crossbars; head above more clay-colored with 

 a somewhat intricate symmetrical pattern of brown dark-edged figures 

 which are again outlined by a light edge, viz, an inverted V on the nape 

 with the apex on the interparietal suture; a median figure on frontal 

 like an exclamation mark; an oblique band on each side across parietal, 

 posterior temporals, and hind edge of last supralabial; a pale dark- 

 edged line across anterior part of frontal and supraoculars through the 

 eye to the upper lip, crossing" the suture between fifth and sixth supra- 

 labials; an angular mark with apex toward the nostral on internasals 



Figs. 304-006.- 



-IIOLAECHUS FORMOSANUS- 2 X NAT. SIZE. 304, TOP OF HEAD; 305, SIDE OF HEAD; 

 306, UNDERSIDE OF HEAD. No. 17a, SCI. COLL. TOKYO. 



and prefrontals; and a few dark marks on some of the supralabials; 

 underside whitish shaded with pale drab toward the lateral ventral 

 angle, which is thus marked off as a fairly distinct white line. 



I)ime7isions. 



mm. 



Total length 557 



Snout to vent 449 



Vent to tip of tail 108 



The younger specimens, for instance No. 34045, are much darker in 

 coloration, the color above being dark drab with a rufous median 

 dorsal line interrupted by very short, blackish crossbars; sides pos- 

 teriorly nearly uniform, with a narrow dusky longitudinal line on the 

 fourth scale row; markings on head essentially as in adults. 



Variation. — Occasionalh^ specimens are found with a divided anal. 



The parietals in the three specimens examined by me show the 

 curious characteristic of being in contact with the lower postocular 



