NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 185 



and two median triangular preanal plates. Five pectoral plates in an arched 

 transverse series. Three pairs of infralabials, one transverse mental, one 

 symphyseal. Labials 8 6 ; eye over the fifth upper. One loreal, two nasals, 

 nostril between ; the anterior slightly bent upon the surface of the muzzle. 

 Fronto-nasals transverse, in contact ; frontal nearly parallel-sided, obtuse- 

 angled before and behind. Fronto-parietals longer than broad, in contact ; 

 interparietal shield-shaped, its point projecting behind the borders of the pa- 

 rietals ; all the head plates impressed-punctate. Posterior extremity scarcely 

 reaching the elbow of the appressed anterior limb ; extent of digits in the 

 order, first, second, fifth, third, fourth. Femoral pores six on each side. Tail 

 plates smooth beneath. Length from muzzle to vent 1 in. 9 1., (tail muti- 

 lated) ; of fore limb 6 lines ; of hinder, 9 lines. 



Color above and on the sides dark chestnut ; a bright yellow band, which 

 commences on each side of the base of the tail, extends anteriorly round the 

 outer border of the supraocular plates, and meets its fellow on the rostral ; in- 

 ternally it is dark bordered on the head. Beneath yellowish, the scales bor- 

 dered with chestnut ; chin immaculate ; under surface of tail yellow spotted. 



The discovery of this little lizard is particularly interesting, as exhibiting 

 femoral pores for the first time among the Scincidse. In other points it nearly 

 resembles the genus Heteropus of Fitzinger. One specimen in the Museum of 

 the Philadelphia Academy is labelled as having come from New Grenada. 



Mabuia fulgida. 



Dr. Girard has regarded the genus Mabuia as peculiarly American, the spei 

 cies from the Pacific Islands formerly placed in it belonging more properly to 

 the genus which he first defined under the name Emoa, (but which Dr. Gray 

 had previously called Emoea), and the East Indian type probably remaining 

 under Dr. Gray's Riopa (except the M. elegans Gray). This view cannot 

 be considered as fully established, at least s as regards the latter group, for 

 Prof. Gill has discovered in the island of Barbadoes a species (Mabuia lan- 

 ce o lata) which, in weakness of extremities and cylindrical form, nearly 

 approaches the M. (Riopa) punctata. The genus Emoea is no longer Poly- 

 nesian, for a species of it has been discovered in Paraguay by the naturalists 

 connected with the government expedition sent thither. 



The history of the American Mabuiae is in a state of some confusion, pro- 

 bably n account of the want of close observation in the discrimination of the 

 species. The following table exhibits the relations of those which appear to 

 be truly distinct. 



I. Species in which there are twenty-six or fewer rows of scales on the body : 

 M. brevirostris Giinther, from Mexico ; M. punctata, India, and per- 

 haps the other species placed by Gray in Riopa, viz., M. hardwickii and 

 ruppellii; R. sundevallii Smith, from South Africa, is not stated to 

 possess a transparent eyelid, and hence may not belong to this genus. Pos- 

 sibly M. elegans Gray should be placed here. 



II. Species in which there are thirty or more rows of scales on the body : 



A. Eye over the seventh superior labial agilis.* 



B. Eye over sixth superior labial. 



a. Internasal semidiscoid, its posterior outline straight, s 1 o a n e i. 

 a a. Internasal rhombic ; 



b. As long as broad, in contact with rostral. 

 Muzzle narrow ; the yellow marginal band bordered with 



brown above, on head fulgida. 



6 6. Broader than long, rarely or not touching rostral. 

 c. Frontal acute anteriorly. 

 Four brown bands on the neck ; thirty-four rows of scales, cuprescens. 



* Vid. Girard Herpetol. U. S. Expl. Exped. p. 261, for synonymy and observations. 



1862.] 13 



