HERPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 477 



separated from tlie lower precular and from the subfoveal by several 

 small scales; from the fourth supralabial by two rows of scales, and 

 from the temporals by a single row of smaller scales; one postocular 

 on left side, three on right, in adition to siiboculars; lower temporals 

 large, upper ones small, smooth scales; 8 supralabials, first subtrian- 

 gular, second forming the anterior border of the pit, third largest, 

 fifth to eighth small, low; three lower labials in ccmtact with anterior 

 chin-shields, fourth and fifth being separated from them by scales; 

 anterior pair of chin-shields much larger than posterior, which are 

 scarcely differentiated from the other postgeneials and separated by 

 a pair of smaller scales; 35 rows of narrow pointed scales, of which 

 all except the outer are keeled and provided with two apical pits; 226 

 ventrals ; anal undivided ; tail defective, subcaudals 73 + , very few 

 missing. Color (in alcohol) above very pale isabella-color, on each 

 side of the median line with a series of elongated darker brownish spots, 

 which are nearly in pairs anteriorly but alternating on the posterior 

 two-thirds, mostly anastomosing across the median line; on the sides 

 a similar but very obscure series; on the upper side of the tail the 

 spots become united to regular cross-bars; occiput with a very 

 obscure pattern of several elongate divergent spots; sides of head 

 whitish with a narrow brown line from upper comer of subocular 

 across the temples to the sides of neck, one scale above last supra- 

 labial; all the brown markings are dark-edged with paler centers; 

 underside uniform whitish. 



Dimensions. 



mm. 



Total length 612 



Snout to vent 517 



Vent to tip of tail 95 



This species grows to a considerable size. Hilgendorf's types of T. 

 riukiuanus are 1.380 and 1.555 m., and Doctor Fischer records two 

 specimens measuring 1.433 and 1.285 m., respectively. A snake of 

 this kind over 5 feet long must be a pretty dangerous reptile. 



Variation. — The number of scale rows shows considerable varia- 

 tion, viz, from 33 to 37, though 35 seems to be the normal number, 

 inasmuch as in 13 specimens more than two-thirds have this number. 

 Doctor Wall records a specimen with 40 scale rows. Ventrals vary 

 between 222 and 234, subcaudals between 75 and 90. Supralabials 

 usually 8, but a specimen in the Hamburg Museum has 7 on one 

 side, and other specimens are on record as having 9. 



The size of the small scales on top of the head is not so variable as 

 the figures given for the ninnber of scales on a line between the supra- 

 oculars, namely, from 7 to 13 would indicate, since the discrepancy 

 depends chiefly upon the irregular size of these scales on the inter- 

 ocular region. 



