Many methods of bile analysis for various species of man and mammals have been reported, but they are difficult to employ for minute quantities due to the inherent inaccuracy of the processes. In this paper the analysis of the bile acids of Elaphe quadrivirgata (Boie) by thin layer chromatography is reported. To purify the sample of bile acids, extraction with organic solvents and hydrolysis were used. The sample was separated into 12 fractions on the stationary phase of silica GH by two-demensional development. Taurocholic acid was clearly identified, but the identity of the other spots remained unclear.

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For a period of 5 years beginning with 1959, the feeding habits in the wild of the “Hime-Habu” (Trimeresnrus okinavensis) on the Amami Islands were studied, with the following results:
1) The animals fed on were vertebrates of 7 families, 9 genera, 12 species. They were divided as follows: Mammals-2 families, 2 genera, 2 species; Birds-1 family, 1 genus, 1 species; Reptiles-1 family, 3 genera, 3 species; Amphibians-3 families, 3 genera, 6 species.
2) Of the animals in 1), 10 species were recorded for the first time.
3) A total of 31 animals were recorded of which 61.3% were amphibians, 19.4% reptiles, 16.1% mammals, and 3.2% birds.
Of the total, the “Ryukyu Aka-Gaeru” (Rana okinavana) and the “Hanasaki-Gaeru” (Rana narina) accounted for 41.2%. These frogs were presumed to be the principal food of the “Hime-Habu”.
4) Judging from the animals eaten, the “Hime-Habu” was presumed to inhabit narrow forested valleys; observations in the field confirmed this.
5) Judging from the feeding habits and the habitat, the “Hime-Habu” and the “Habu” (Trimeresurus f. flavoviridis) were presumed to be completely allopatric.
6) A maximum length of 783mm for the “Hime-Habu” from the Amami Islands was recorded.
7) An instance of the “Hime-Habu” eating a snake longer than itself was recorded.

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1959年9月から5年間にわたり,奄美群島産アカマタの自然界における捕食物を調査し,更に実験的観察をも加えてアカマタの食性を考察し,以下の知見を得た。
1) アカマタの自然界における食餌動物の種類として,6科・8属・10種を報告した。これを綱別にみれば,爬虫類の4科・6属・7種;両棲類の1科・1属・2種;魚類の1科・1属・1種となっている。
2) アカマタの食餌動物として,新しく6種を記載した。
3) 本調査で得られた捕食例数は19例で,その綱別捕食率は爬虫類が78.9%(15)で最も高く,ついで両棲類の15.8%(3);魚類の5.3%(1)の順となっている。
これらのうちで蛇類が全体の63.2%(12)を占めており,アカマタがこれらの蛇類を中心とした爬虫類を好食していることを指摘した。
4) 捕食例中,毒蛇のハブ属が全体の31.6%を占めていることから,アカマタとハブとの関係を解析し,アカマタがハブの天敵としての役割を果していることを指摘して,アカマタの保護対策が必要なことを提唱した。
5) アカマタの食物調査から,魚類の1新種が得られたことを報告した。

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