The activity of the himehabu increased notably twice per day, at 6-10 P. M. and at 5-9 A. M. It is evident that the himehabu possesses a rhythm of activity with periods about half a day in length. These times when the himehabu became active were suddenly rising periods of humidity. If the humidity rises suddenly in the day-time because of a rainfall, the himehabu becomes active.
Therefore, the sudden rise of humidity is thought to be the trigger that induces a half-day rhythm of activity at ordinary times. The time of occurrence of human himehabu bite cases was independent of snake activity.

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Using 30 adult specimens of Hynobius lichenatus collected at Tagami-Mura, Niigata Prefecture, the variation in digital development in the hind leg was examined externally and osteologically. The fifth digit was normally developed in most specimens (52/60; left+right=60). However, the fifth digit was vestigial in a few specimens (6/60), and was not found at all in few specimens (2/60). It is conceivable that there is a degenerative tendency for the development of the fifth digit in the hind leg of this species.

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An electrophoretic analysis of the hemoglobin of Japanese toads, Bufo bufo japonicus, B. b, formosus, and B. torrenticola was made from the taxonomic point of view. B. torrenticola had one hemoglobin component, irrespective of age and sex, whereas B. b. formosus had two components, one of which is identical with that of B. torrenticola. The banding pattern of B. b. japonicus, showing either one or two hemoglobin components, is identical either with B. torrenticola or B. b. formosus, respectively. This variation in B. b. japonicus seems to indicate the existence of polymorphism within a population. Systematic relationships between these forms and European B. b, bufo were examined in the light of hemoglobin components and other non-biochemical evidences, and it was concluded that the Japanese group have diverged considerably from the European species.

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