ART. 25 CHINESE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES^ STEJNEGER 57 



TAKYDROMUS SEPTENTKIONALIS Guenther 



For synonymy, see Herp. Japan, 1907, p. 232 (exclusive of references to 

 Formosa). Add: 



Tachydromus septentrionalis Steindachnee, Wiss. Ergebn. Reise Szech- 

 enyi Ost-Asien, vol. 2, 1898, p. 506 (Yumen-shien, Kansu). — Boxilengeb, 

 Mem. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. 5, 1917, p. 216 (Kansu to Fukien) ; Monogr. 

 Lacert., vol. 2, 1921, p. 137 (Along the Yangtse Kiang, north vpest to 

 Kansu, southeast to Fukien). 

 Takydromus septentrionalis Van Denburgh, Proc. California Acad. Sci. 

 (4) vol. 3, 1912, p. 242 (Mohkansan and Huchow, Chekiang), 



The National Museum has now eight Chinese specimens of this 

 species, two from the province of Shensi, two from Kiangsu, three 

 from Szechwan, and one from Fukien. The occurrence at Suifu and 

 Kount Omei, where Mr. D. C. Graham also collected T. intermedius, 

 is very interesting. The variation in the characters considered diag- 

 nostic of the species is shown in the table of specimens herewith. To 

 be noted is, that one specimen has 4 postmentals on one side, and the 

 larger anterior one opposite nicked in the inner edge by an incipient 

 suture. The dorsal rows are very variable, there being 6 subequal 

 scales in two specimens; 4 large and 2 small median rows in two; 

 7 rows consisting of 6 large with a median small row in two ; and 1 

 with 6 large and 2 median smaller rows. In Nos. 65460 and 66735, 

 the dorsal scale rows change at the middle of the back from 3-1-3 

 anteriorly to 2-2-2 posteriorly. In five specimens there are 2 lateral 

 enlarged rows adjoining the ventrals on each side, while in three 

 specimens the sutures of the rostral, nasals, and fronto-nasals meet 

 in such a way that it is difficult to say whether the rostral and fronto- 

 nasals touch or not. In two specimens, one from Nanking (No. 

 65092) and one from Szechwan (No. 65460) there is a well-developed 

 masseteric scute on the temple. The anterior supraocular varies in 

 size from a mere granule to a well-indicated shield. In one (No. 

 65092) it is absolutely wanting, and the large second supraocular in 

 this specimen is in contact with the posterior loreal. 



