1905.] JAPAN AND THE LOO CHOO ISLANDS. 515 



Groups 2 and 3. Loo Ohoo Snakes. 

 Family Colubrid^. Subfamily CoLUBRiNiE. 



1. Tropidoxotus pryeri. — Of 58 specimens, 54 were obtained 

 from Okinawa, three from Amami, and one from Iriomote. There 

 were two postoculars on one side in one specimen. Fonr contained 

 eggs with no trace of embryos. 



1 killed 20th April had 3 eggs, largest lii" x |4". 



1 ,, ,, ,, ,, 5 ., ,, about 1" long. 



1 22nd 3 1J-J-" lono- 



1 „ 8th May „ 6 „ „ i-^". 



The size of the eggs first alluded to is very remarkable con- 

 sidering the size of the species. The mother measured 2 feet 

 7| inches, tail slightly docked. 



2. DiNODON RUFOZONATUS. — Of eight specimens two were from 

 Miyako, two from Ishigaki, four from Iriomote. The two sjoeci- 

 mens from Miyako were peculiar in coloui', being of a much lighter 

 brown than usual. Each had 21 whitish, dark-margined dorsal 

 bars. The ventrals were 182 and 189. 



3. DiNODON SEMiCARiNATUS. — Of 22 Specimens, 19 were from 

 Okinawa and three from Amami. The supralabials in one were 

 eight with the fourth and fifth only touching the eye. One had 

 swallowed a fledgling, and another a lizard. 



4. Coluber schmackeri. — A single specimen, much mutilated 

 and of large size, was obtained from Ishigaki. The supralabials 

 were nine on the right side with the fifth and sixth touching the 

 eye, ten on the left side with the sixth and seventh touching the 

 eye. The loreal was more than twice as long as high. The upper 

 of two pra?oculai-s nearly touched the frontal. 



5. Ablabes semicarinates. — Of 134 specimens, 131 were from 

 Okinawa and three from Amami *. 



6. Ablabes hermin^. — The single specimen was from Iriomote. 

 It was an aberrant example in that the scales number 19 in mid- 

 body. Anteriorly and posteriorly the normal 17 scales were 

 present. Yentrals 159 and subcaudals 60. 



7. Hemibungarus japonicus. — Of ten examples, six were from 

 Okinawa and four from Amami t. Those from Okinawa were all 

 alike in having five longitudinal black dorsal lines broader than the 

 pink intervals. There were 9-12 narrow black annuli I'ound the 

 body and 1-2 (2 usually) on the tail. The ventrals and subcaudals 



* There seems but little doubt that Japan lias been incorrectly included as a 

 habitat for this species and for Semilnmc/atms Japonicus. Boulenger is clearly of this 

 opinion {vide op. cit. vol. iii. p. 395 footnote). These species were oria-inallv described 

 and figured by Gunther (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) i. 1868, pp. 418 & 428) from 

 one specimen of each reported to have come from Nagasaki. Thirtj'-seven years 

 have novf elapsed without either being rediscovered in Japan. 



\ See footnote to Ahlahes semicarinatus. 



