49G PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



Wilson, U. S. N., but twenty-four. The scales upon tlie back, in the Loo- 

 Choo specimen, are broader than those in the one from South Carolina. The 

 fronto-nasal and fronto-parietal much smaller in the Loo-Choo specimen, the 

 former les^ than half the size ; in the latter the frenal is more high and 

 narrow ; in the one from South Carolina, there is a naso-frenal, a plate 

 which does not exist in the specimen from Loo-choo. In the large North 

 American specimens in the Green collection, we count twenty-nine and thirty 

 rows of scales : both these have a naso-frenal in front of the anterior frenal. 

 In a specimen from Arkansas, presented by Mr. Pitcher, we find twenty-nine 

 rows of scales, and no naso-frenal, a near approach to the Japan ; but the 

 scales upon the back are evidently less broad. In another specimen from 

 South Carolina, presented by Prof. Leidy, we find thirty-two rows, with a 

 naso-frennl ; scales of the back high. In another from South Carolina, pre- 

 sented by Mr. Reid, we find twenty-nine and thirty rows. In the specimen 

 from Japan, which is young, the ground color between the stripes is jet 

 black ; in those from Loo-Choo, which are more mature, the color above is 

 olive, with a dark colored lateral band on each side, between the lateral 

 stripe ; the most constant difference determined by the above comparisons, 

 therefore, would appear to be the less number of rows of scales in the 

 Japanese, the greater breadth of the dorsal rows, and the absence of the naso- 

 frenal plate. We have had, however, but three Asiatic specimens for observa- 

 tion, but would suggest whether they be not really distinct species from the 

 North American, although resembling each other so much in color ; and in case 

 future observation should decide this to be the case, would propose for the 

 Japanese species the name Plestiodox latiscutatus. 



Gen. Lygosaukus nob. 



Char. Nostril in a single plate ; neither supero-nasal, nor naso-frenal ; two 

 fronto-nasals ; an interparieto-fronto parietal ; two parietals ; a first and second 

 frenal ; two freno-orbitars ; six superior labials ; body covered with hexagonal 

 scales, tricarinate upon the back ; fingers and toes 5 5 ; the two inner and 

 outer ones quite short; tail cyclo-tetragonal at base, longer than head, neck 

 and body. 



Lygosaurus pellopleurus nob. 



Spec. char. Light brown above, with four longitudinal rows of minute black 

 spots, extending a considerable distance upon the tail ; a lateral dark-colored 

 band on each side, commencing behind the eye and extending the whole length 

 of the back and body, being lost upon the tail; abdomen and under part of 

 extremities white ; the scales upon the under part of the tail spotted with 

 black. Total length 3 inches, 7 lines; tail 2 inches. 



Description. The size of this delicate-looking little Lepidosanrian is about 

 the same as that of Lygosoma laterale; the head is small, the snout rather 

 pointed, the supra-orbitar regions somewhat prominent ; the internasal is 

 broader than long ; the fronto-nasal single, truncate posteriorly, presenting 

 three facets in front, the middle one broad ; frontal truncate anteriorly, the 

 edges bevelled, angular posteriorly ; the fronto-parietals and parietals present 

 nothing remarkable, but the interparietal, instead of being placed exclusively 

 between tbe parietals, lies also and for the greater part of its extent between 

 the fronto-parietals ; it is narrow in front, broad behind ; the inferior eyelid is 

 protected by two rows of scales, the inferior row quite large, beneath which, 

 and above the supero-Iabials, there are two interrupted rows of triangular 

 scales ; four supra-orbitar scales ; auricular openings pyriform in shape, with 

 no scales upon their borders; scales hexagonal, those upon the abdomen and 

 sides smooth, those upon the back tricarinate ; 24 rows of scales, six in front 

 of the arms and of nearly equal size; extremities slender, each provided with 



[Oct. 



