462 BULLETIN 58, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



which may or may not indicate a real difrerence. This feature con- 

 sists in the consolidation of the two scales a])ove the large lower 

 temporals of the second and third rows into a single elongate shield 

 which is in contact anteriorly with the large lower shield of the first 

 row without extending above it; at the same time the two lower 

 shields of the second and third rows are reduced in size and their 

 upper edges form a straight line parallel with the edge of the lip. 

 The arrangement does not appear abnormal and is absolutely identi- 

 cal in both specimens, though in No. 34039 it is only found on the 

 right side, while on the left it is as in typical A. hlomlioffii. 



Color description. — Adult male; U.S.N.M., No. 34038; Yaeyama, 

 Riu Kiu Archipelago; October 12, 1900; A. Owston collection. 



The ])redominating color (in alcohol) al)ove is 

 ^^\^^^^^^^ a pals drab, with very faint indications of 

 slightly browner cross-bars with traces of 

 darker gray edges, the cross-bars separated 

 ^ ,,. . bv narrow slightly paler interspaces; on the 



Fig. 3b5.— Agkistrodon blom- ^ n ./ j ... 



HOFFii ? AFFiNis. ij X NAT. outcr row of scalcs and the adjoining corner 

 f^^-J^^'^^^^^''^- No. 34038. ^^^f ^i^g ventrals a series of irregular cinnamon- 



U.S.N.M. ® 



colored spots about 2-3 ventrals apart; head 

 uniform, the temporal region darker, especially on the upper border 

 of the adjoining supralabials on which the contrast with the pale color 

 of the rest of these shields is fairly well contrasted; only faint traces 

 of a whitish line above and below the dusky area on the temporal 

 region; lower postocular uniform drab without anterior white spot; 

 underside wliitish wath slight and irregular dark gray markings at the 

 base and outer corner of the ventrals. 



Dimensions. 

 ' mm. 



Total length 404 



Snout to vent 340 



Vent to tip of tail 64 



Variation. — No. 34039 differs chiefly in being still paler and more 

 cinnamon-colored with even less traces of a pattern on the u]iper 

 side and on sides of head; on the other hand, the dark gray mark- 

 ings on the underside are distinctly darker but not larger. 



The difference in the scutellation of the temporal region on the 

 two sides of this specimen has been alluded to above. 



Habitat. — Uncertain as the whole status of this form is, the only 

 statement which can be made with certainty refers to the two speci- 

 mens in the U. S. National Museum, which were collected October 

 12, 1900, on Yaeyama, according to Mr. A. Owston. 



Whether it occurs on any of the other islands it is impossible to 

 sa}^ now, but it appears probable that it is confined to the southern 

 group of the Riu Kiu Archipelago. 



