Q>         Pattern p = Pattern.compile("(\\d*):");
Q>         Matcher m = p.matcher("1:2::4:::");
Q>         while (m.find())
Q>             System.out.println(m.group(1));
Q>

package java.lang;

...

public final class String ... {

    ...

    public String[] split(String regex, int limit) {
        return Pattern.compile(regex).split(this, limit);
    }

    ...

}