46 SCINCUSFASCIATUS. 



irregularly quadrilateral, Avith their internal angles elongated; and the anterior 

 frontal are subquadrilateral and rounded in front. The rostral plate is large, 

 pentagonal, hollowed below and angled above. The nasal are rounded and single 

 on each side; the internasal elongated and pentagonal. The nostrils are very near 

 the snout, and lateral, but opening upwards and outwards. There are eight 

 quadrilateral superior labial plates, larger posteriorly. The eyes are rather small, 

 the pupil dark, the iris golden, the eyelids dark brown, with an internal narrow 

 yellow margin. The external meatus of the ear is oval, vertical and large, and 

 the tympanum pale flesh-colour. 



The body is elongated, cylindrical, and covered above with rhomboidal scales, 

 imbricated, and arranged in longitudinal rows. 



The throat and abdomen are covered with scales approaching the hexagonal 

 form, but are so rounded posteriorly and so imbricated as to appear semicircular. 



The tail is cyhndrical, very long, and covered above with scales, larger than 

 those on the back; below there is a central row of large plates, resembling those 

 of the boa. These plates begin about one inch behind the vent, between which 

 and their commencement are three rows of imbricated scales; while in the Scincus 

 quinquelineatus there are five rows of scales, which extend to half the length of 

 the tail. The vent is transverse, with two large and two smaller scales in front. 



The anterior extremities are short, and covered with scales more nearly 

 hexagonal, but with their external angle rounded; there are five fingers, distinct, 

 and each furnished with a small delicate curved nail. The posterior extremities 

 are well developed, covered with scales similar to the anterior; there are five long 

 slender toes, each with a short curved nail. 



Colour. The head and body above are beautiful bluish-black; the upper jaw 

 is dusky, and the lower jaw bluish-white. A straw-coloured or yellowish-white 



