1856.] 149 



Habitat. Liberia, west coast of Africa. Three specimens presented by Dr. 

 Savage. 



Tlie young is of a very light straw color above, with three transverse bands 

 about two lines in breadth, of a beautiful yellow color ; blotch upon neck similar 

 in form to that of adult, but of a beautiful light yellow color; under parts straw 

 color ; no minute black points upon the scales. 



Dimensions of a young specimen. Length of head 6 lines ; greatest breadth 

 3^ ; length of neck and body to tail 1 inch 3 lines ; (tail mutilated.) 



The Gymnodactyles are separated by Dumeril and Bibron into two divisions, 

 viz., the Gymnodactyles homonotes, in which the scales of the back are equal, 

 and into Gymnodactyles heteronotes, in which the upper parts of the body are 

 sprinkled with tubercles more or less developed. The species now described 

 belongs to the latter division. 



Gen. GYMNODACTYLUS. 



Char. Five nails not retractile to all the feet ; toes not dilated transversely, 

 nor denticulated upon their edges ; the fifth of the posterior toes versatile, or 

 capable of being removed from the others at a right angle. (Dumeril et Bibron, 

 tome 3, p. 408.) 



Gymnodactylus tenuis, nob. 



Char. Head rather long, front depressed ; nine inferior labial plates, the 

 four first broader than the others ; two plates behind the mental, followed by 

 three others in contact with the labials, not so large ; ten superior labials ; ros- 

 tral broader than long ; two quadrangular oblique plates posterior to it, with a 

 smaller one between them; nostrils circular, their inferior border in contact 

 with the first labial, the anterior margia formed by the quadrangular plates 

 above described, the posterior by a small semi-circular scale, the superior by a 

 small irregularly shaped plate ; head covered with smooth granulations, some- 

 what larger upon the sides ; the eyebrow presenting numerous quadrangular 

 scales, forms a complete circle around the eye ; auricular openings oval, without 

 denticulations ; extremities quite slender ; fingers and toes slender, each provided 

 with a small recurved nail, with the exception of the thumb ; scales beneath 

 the fingers and toes single ; body slender ; tail longer than body, tapering to a 

 point, with a row of broad scales beneath. 



Coloration. Brownish above, upon the body, lighter beneath ; tail yellowish, 

 banded with brown. 



3feasurement.s. Length of head 7 lines ; greatest breadth 4 ; length of body 

 1 inch, (Fr. ;) of tail 1 inch 2 J lines. 

 Habitat. Manilla. One specimen presented by Dr. Burroughs. 



Fam. VARANID.E. 



Lezards Varaniens or Sauriens Platynotes, D. & B. 



We do not find among the Varanians in the collection of the Academy any 

 which appear to be new, with the exception of the specimen now described, 

 presented several years ago by Dr. Kane. The Museum at present contains the 

 following species, viz., V. niloticus, (10 specimens,) V. Bengalensis, (3 sp.,) V. 

 bivittatus, (4 sp.,) V. Piqotii, (2 sp.,) V. arenarius, (1 sp.,) V. ocellatus ; (1 sp.,) 

 the two last from the Garden of Plants in exchange. The specimen presented 

 by Dr. Kane is the largest, by far, in the collection, and of greater dimensions 

 than those of any of the Varanians, with the exception of the gigantic lace lizard 

 of N. Holland, (Hydrosaurus giganteus. Gray,) described by Mr. Gray in the 

 "Zoology" of the Erebus and Terror, part vi., Feb., 1845, 6i feet in length. 



