Translators" note: 
The original title page Of ~thi's work appeared (as 
translated): 
Systematic key of reptiles of China 
Department of Herpetology 
Sichuan Institute of Biology 
Published in 1977 the work included keys to the turtles and 
crocodilians. The translation was prepared while Yang Datong was 
in residence at the Field Museum in 1985-86. We attempted to 
prepare as literal a translation as possible. At a few points it 
was necessary to diverge slightly from the original. The only 
significant revision involved snakes originally grouped under the 
heading Natrix; these are distributed in six genera in the 
translation. The entire translation was reviewed by the original 
authors and approved by them. 
