ON THE FAUNA OF JAPAN. 111 



Hokkaido. — Concerning its faunal relations acconnts are much 

 at variance. In order to understand what are the actual facts, we 

 have now to consider peculiarities presented by its more important 

 animal forms. In mammals the island appears to be less rich, having 

 only about 25 species, of which more than a half are related to those 

 of Saghalien and the continent, either as identical or allied species. 

 Amongst those the species common to the districts just mentioned are 

 Eutamias adoiicus, llustela erminea Jcanei, 31artes zihellina, and others, 

 which are not found in Honshu. The species which present well-marked 

 differences of shape and colour as compared with those found on the 

 ]iarent land are as follows : Sorex dopliaenodon yesoensis, Lepus 

 gichiganus ainu, Evotomys hedfordae, Sciurus vulgaris orientis, JJrsus 

 arctos yesoensis, etc. Besides, Y>^e find two groups, one which ranges 

 over to northern Honshu, the other which must be considered as a 

 southern derivation. The latter are very few, being represented by 

 Jpodemus speciosus ainu, A. geisha hokkaidi, Nyctereides alhus, 

 Cervus nippon nippon, etc. 



Turning to birds we find enormous numbers of species which are 

 quite identical with, or closely allied to those found in Saghalien as 

 well as on the continent. Of these comparatively few range over to 

 northern Honshu. The species which are considered as peculiar are 

 the Yeso-ptarmigan, Sittiparus varius varius, Eryohates leiicotos suh- 

 cirris, Jynx torquilla hokkaidi, etc. 



Of reptiles ilie case is rather different, because the number of the 

 species which may be considered as those with southern affinities 

 appear to exceed that of the Eurasian types. The species with which 

 we are at present acquainted are as follows : Enmeces latiscidatus, 

 Takydromus tachydromoides, Natrix vihakari, Elaphe climacophora, 

 E. quadrivirgata, and Agkistrodon hlomhoffii. 



Amphibians are represented by such forms as Bufo vulgaris 

 hokkaidensis, Hyla arborea Japonica, Bana iemporaria, B. temp, 

 ornativentris, and Hynohius retardcdus. Of these the first and last 

 are supposed to be peculiar. 



In comparing the freshwater fishes of Hokkaido and of Saghalien, 

 we find a close, similarity in species, as already pointed out. The 

 species which a})pear to be endemic are scanty, being represented by 

 Acipenser mikadoi, Lefua nikkonis, etc. Soujc peculiarity may be 

 attributable for the absence of Oryzia latipes, Farasilus asotus, and 

 others, which are very familiar in Honshu. Abundantly caught on this 



