Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 3 



mcnsis is proposed. The type would then be No. 21729, Cali- 

 fornia Academy of Sciences." * * * Evidently Doctor Thomp- 

 son did not believe that this name should be bestowed, and 

 the impression follows that he has some other reason for giv- 

 ing it. This impression later becomes a conviction. 



3. Herpetological Notices | No. 3 — July 31, 19 12 | On 

 Reptiles New to the Island Arcs | of Asia | by | Surgeon 

 J. C. Thompson, U. S. N. | San Francisco | Published by the 

 Author I 1912. In this case the subject matter begins U|X)n 

 page I and continues to page 5. 



Doctor Thompson first, after having showed that, in 

 Mabuia lungicaudata (Hallowell), "Formosan specimens dif- 

 fer slightly from the mainland ones in several respects," pro- 

 ceeds to inform us that "Only upon the ground of the desire 

 to multiply names could one resort to the use of M. rluistrati 

 (Fischer) to designate the Formosan form." 



Writing of Lygosoma latcralc Say, Thompson quotes 

 Boulenger and Stejneger to the effect that Chinese and Ameri- 

 can individuals of this species are indistinguishable. "Yet," he 

 adds, "one can safely prophesy that ere long the specimens 

 taken in Formosa and the Loo Choo Islands will appear dis- 

 guised under a subspecific alias." He then proceeds to name 

 Lygosoma latcralc var formoscnsis, the type being 25026 Cal. 

 Ac. Sci., and Lygosoma latcralc var ishigakiciisis, the type 

 being 21677 Cal. Ac. Sci. 



Setting off the Riu Kiuan race of Achaliuns spinalis Peters. 

 we learn that "The Loo Chooan examples differ from the 

 typical Japanese in a decidedly increased number of caudal 

 vertebrae, and in coloration. These differences are not re- 

 garded as of specific value (Italics mine). Nevertheless, due 

 provision is made by suggesting the tentative name of Achal- 



