1903.] SNAKES OF CHINA AND JAPAN, 89 
informed me he had captured in the filter-beds near Bowen Road 
on Hongkong Island. In two specimens the third, fourth, fifth, 
and sixth supralabials touch the eye on both sides. Ventrals 
192-209 °, 
30. Dinopon ruFozonatus. China, Hainan, Formosa, Chusan, 
Corea, Tsu Shima, Japan, Loo Choo Islands.—This is a very 
common snake about Shanghai, where I encountered it frequently. 
I picked up several and allowed them to crawl about my arms 
without their exhibiting the least malice or alarm, and they 
made little attempt to escape in the first instance. Riding my 
bicycle one night I saw one crossing the road; I dismounted, 
flashed my lamp on the snake, and, while holding my machine 
with my right hand, captured it easily with my left. It made no 
attempt at escape, though cover was within a yard or two. It 
was full-grown and not desquamating. My servant caught one 
in camp one night just outside my hut; it encircled the man’s 
leg but did not bite. It contained a large toad (Bufo vulgaris). 
I found a large number preserved in the Siccawei Museum. 
found one in Mr. Owston’s collection obtained from Japan, and 
four others procured from Ishigaki Island in the Loo Choo group. 
I noted the following :—Internasals half or less than half the 
length of prefrontals. Loreal, in Japanese and Loo Choo speci- 
mens, does not touch the eye in all (five); in Chinese does not 
touch the eye in five, touches eye in eleven. Postoculars three 
on both sides in one specimen, three on one side in one specimen. 
Temporals one on one side in one specimen. Labials normal in 
all. Anterior chin-shields in contact with four lower labials in 
one specimen on both sides, with six lower labials on one side 
in two specimens. Ventrals in Japanese and Loo Choo speci- 
mens 180-190; in Chinese specimens 192-209. Subcaudals in 
Japanese and Loo Choo specimens 76-87 ; in Chinese specimens 
64-76. Colour: there appear to be two very distinct varieties. 
All the Chinese conform to the following description :—Alternate 
bars of jet-black and coral-red (white in old spirit-specimens) 
dorsally, breaking into a coarse mottling on the flanks. The black 
bars involve two or three scales in the length of the snake, and the 
red one scale or slightly more. There are 53-74 black bars on 
the body and 18-24 on the tail, the first is broadest and forms a 
chevron on the nape. Head black, fading to whitish on labials ; 
sutures on crown coral-red. A light temporal streak usually. 
Belly whitish, with some lateral mottling. The Japanese and 
Loo Choo specimens agree :—Alternate darkish-brown and dirty 
whitish (perhaps red when fresh) bars dorsally, breaking up into 
a mottling laterally. The brown bars involve four or five scales 
(more quite anteriorly), the light one scale. There are 24-33 
brown bars on body, 15-18 on tail. Crown of head brown, fading 
1 Giinther records also Lycodon (Ophites) albofuscus from Formosa (Ann. Mag. 
Nat. Hist. (4) vol. i. 1868, p. 426), but gives no description nor authority for 
recording it. 
