1905. ] JAPAN AND THE LOO CHOO ISLANDS. 513 
in this area are peculiar to it, except Lachesis okinavensis, which 
encroaches upon the Japanese area on Yaku, and Tropidonotus 
pryeri, which extends further south into the next division. (3) The 
South Loo Chooan area, comprising the islands of Miyako, Inio- 
mote, and Ishigaki. Only 15 specimens were collected in this 
area, including 5 species. Two of these extend to Formosa, viz., 
Lachesis mucrosquamatus and Dinodon rufozonatus ; one 1s common 
to the whole Loo Chooan area, viz. Tropidonotus pryeri; and the 
remaining two hitherto have only been obtained from this area, 
viz. Coluber schmackeri and Ablabes hermine. 
Group 1. JAPANESE SNAKES. 
Family COLUBRID, Subfamily CoLuBRIn«&. 
1. TRoprponorus vIBAKARI.—The 14 specimens were all obtained 
from Japan (Hondo)*. The supralabials were eight with the 
fourth and fifth only touching the eye in three specimens, and 
eight with the third, fourth, and fifth touching the eye on 
one side in one specimen. The anterior chin-shields touched five 
infralabials in one specimen. One example captured in July 
contained five eggs, the largest measuring 1,4," x 8". 
2. TROPIDONOTUS TIGRINUS.—Of 56 specimens, 53 were collected 
in Japan (Hondo), two in Yaku, and one in Tanega. ‘The supra- 
labials were eight with the fourth and fifth touching the eye in 
two, the postoculars two on one side in one. The loreal was con- 
fluent with the postnasal on both sides in three, and on one side in 
one. A toad had been ingested in two examples. 
3. Dinopon JAponicus.—A single normal specimen was obtained 
from Yamanashi (Hondo). The ventrals were 202 and the sub- 
caudals 74. 
4, CoLUBER CONSPICILLATUS.—Of 19 specimens, 18 were from 
Japan (Hondo) and one from Tanega Island. The temporals 
were two in one Hondo specimen, and the scales 23 in another 
Hondo specimen in the middle of the body. Ventrals and sub- 
caudals were as follows in five specimens :—209+71, 203+ 64, 
214471, 217466, 221+69 (the fourteenth and fifteenth sub- 
caudals entire). The Hondo adult examples, with one exception, 
were uniform brown with each scale outlined darker ; the belly 
rose or cherry-coloured, with a double series of large, rectangular, 
black, median spots frequentiy confluent across the belly ; two 
* Boulenger, op. cit. vol. i. p. 221, mentions Formosa as a habitat for this species. 
If this is correct, it is a very singular circumstance. ‘There are no other instances 
of Japanese species occurring in Formosa, except Dinodon rufozonatus and Ancis- 
trodon blomhoffii. ‘The existence of both in Formosa is easily understood, since they 
are common snakes on the Chinese mainland, and the Formosan Snake fauna is com- 
posed almost entirely of Chinese species. In the case of Tropidonotus vibakari, 
however, it is significant that it has not been recorded from China (except Manchuria) 
and it does not occur in the Loo Choos. I am prompted to regard this record as an 
error. 
