OiV 'J HE FAUNA OF JAPAN. 121 



groups, we find such great diiferences, that they are each readily 

 marked off from the other. Up to the present, about 36 species of 

 mammals have been recorded, of which the most notable are Hipposide- 

 ros turpis in the Sakishima subgroup, Battus rufescens in the Okinawa, 

 and R. .coxingi and Pentalagus farnessi in the Amami-Oshima. Sus 

 riuhianus ranges all over the subgroups ; Lenothrex legota is found to 

 occur in Okinawa and Oshima. Amongst the species just recorded the 

 Amami liare is zoologically of reuiarkable interest, presenting a blackish 

 colour. It is nocturnal in its habits and hides away in the hollows of 

 trees during the day. Its thorough protection was authorized. 



Of l)irds the species which api>ear to be j)eculi:ir amount to 11 in 

 the Sakishima, 6 in the Okinawa, and 8 in the Araami-Oshima sub- 

 group. Such are as follows : Spilornis cheela, Eallina eiiryzonoides 

 sepiaria, Parus nigriloris, Halcyon miyakoensis, etc. in the first ; 

 Saplieopipo nogucliii, Otus hakhamoena pryeri, Icoturus kamadori 

 namiyei, etc. in the second ; Scolopax rusticolo, mira, Dryobates leucotos 

 owstoni, Microscelis omiaurotis ogaivae, Oreocinchla dauma amami, 

 LalociUa lidtlii, Yungipichs kizidxi amamii, etc. in the third. Be it 

 observed that Yonakuni, an island at the southern end of the Sakishima 

 subgroup, is regarded as bearing very close relations in its avifauna to 

 Formosa. Amongst the forms recorded above, L. Udtlii and S. nogucliii 

 are each of one genus and one species. The former, Lidth's jay, furnish- 

 es very beautiful feathers, which are used to trim ladies' hats. Before 

 the great war the skins of this bird were exported to Europe and 

 America to a large amount annually. It is now specified as a 

 " natural monument," and strictly preserved. 



The reptilian fauna is very rich, having 30 species, of which 

 one-third is the same as found in the Oriental region, and the 

 remaining two-thirds those not discovered elsewhere. So far as our 

 present knowledge is concerned, each subgroup possesses some endemic 

 species. Thus, in the Sakishima, Eumeces kislvinouyei, Takydromus 

 dorsalis, Elaplie sclimaclceri, Liopeltis herminae, Trimeresurus elegans ; 

 in the Okinawa, Lygosanrus pjellopleurus, Hemih^mgctrus hoettgeri, Tr. 

 ohinavensis ; in the Amami-Oshima, Hem. japonicus, and others ai)pear 

 to be peculiar to those subgroups. Banging over the islands of 

 Okinawa and Oshima is found Tr. Jiavovirridis which is of a seriously 

 toxic nature. 



Amphibians are at present known from about 15 species, of which 

 the characteristic forms are in the Sakishima subgroup Biifo hiifo 



