1856.] 227 



2 inches 9 lines ; of anterior extremities 9 lines ; of posterior extremities 1 inch ; 

 of tail 3J inches ; total length 6 inches and ^. 



Habitat. Jamaica. One specimen presented by Dr. Caspar W. Pennock, the 

 other without a label. 



Gen. Remarks. The scaling of the frontal region is so entirely different from 

 that of the other species of Anolis being composed of flat and large polygonal 

 plates, that with the large size of the scales upon the sides of the body, larger 

 than those upon the back and abdomen, being just the reverse of what obtains 

 in most of the other species of Anolis, it might, with some degree of propriety be 

 considered as belonging to a subgenus ; but as the multiplication of subgenera in 

 our opinion tends only to confusion, and to discourage the young naturalist, 

 and is in fact, at variance with a true and philosophical study of nature, we pre- 

 fer not making one, leaving it to be placed in a group different from those already 

 recognized, viz , with scales upon the sides larger i\\a.xi those upon the back and 

 abdomen, and larger and flat plates upon the head. 



There can be no doubt, we think, that Anolis leucocephalus is a species new 

 to Herpetology, the only one closely approaching it being that recently described 

 by Prof. Aug. Dumeril, in his Catalogue Methodique de la Collection des Reptiles 

 du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris, p. 59. (Anolis heterodermus, A. Dum.) 

 who observes that the only species of Anolis previously described with scales 

 upon the sides, surrounded with small granulations is the Anolis camajleonides 

 or Chamelopsis Fernandina of Cocteau figured in de la Sagra's splendid work ou 

 the Natural History of Cuba. Mr. Dumeril's species is found in New Granada, 

 and differs from leucocephalus in having a small denticulated carina upon 

 the neck and back, in its carinated scales upon the tail, in the absence of a 

 large goitre, and the presence of the voluminous scales upon the supra-orbitar 

 ridges, and the margins of the snout. 



Anolis sericeus, nob. 



Char. Head small, scales upon muzzle carinated ; supra-orbitar ridges sepa- 

 rated from each other by several rows of scales ; supra-orbitar scales nine in 

 number; temples covered with granulations; scales upon back and abdomen 

 carinated ; tail not compressed, long ; color brown, extremities banded and 

 blotched with brown ; brown bands upon the tail ; total length 4| inches, 



Description. The head is small, with a marked depression in front ; the 

 nostrils are quite small, circular, about half a line from the extremity of the 

 snout ; situated upon the side of a well marked prominence above and within 

 the line of the orbitar ridge, which does not extend so far as the nostril ; scales 

 upon the muzzle carinated, much smaller than those upon the front, which are 

 subequal, polygonal, the exterior ones larger than those at the bottom of the 

 cavities above mentioned ; supra-orbitar ridge low, in contact tvith the si/pra-orbitar 

 scales, and separated Jrom each other by several rows of scales; supra-orbitar scales 

 nine in number ; occipital scales thickly conglomerated, forming an .almost tri- 

 angular patch with the occipital in the middle, not depressed, and separated from 

 the supra-orbitar ridge by a row of three or four scales ; temples covered with 

 granulations; nine quadrangular plates upon the upper jaw ; auricular openings 

 quite large, suboval, not denticulated ; tympanum distinct ; body slender without 

 a crest ; scales upon the sides granular, smaller than those upon the back, which 

 are imbricate and carinated; those upon the abdomen much larger than those 

 upon the sides and back, quadrangular and very distinctly carinated ; extremi- 

 ties slender, covered above with carinated scales, very strongly marked upon the 

 thighs, below with granulations ; tail very long, round and thicker at base, not com- 

 2)ressed, tapering gradually to a point. 



Coloration. Predominant color brown ; a small brownish blotch upon the oc- 

 ciput, a much larger one across the neck, commencing behind the auricular 

 openings and interosculating with one upon the anterior portion of the back ; 

 extremities banded and blotched with brown ; brown bands upon the tail ; under 

 parts black, spotted and blotched with brown. 



Dimensions. Length of head 6 lines ; greatest breadth 4 lines ; length of body 



