52 TROPIDOLEPISUNDULATUS. 



and covered with rough imbricated and nearly hexagonal scales. The snout is 

 obtuse; the rostral plate pentagonal and elongated; the nasal plates are single on 

 each side, and nearly semicircular. The nostrils are lateral, but open upwards 

 and backwards, and are very near the snout, on the inner margin of the superciliary 

 ridge. There are about ten frontal plates, the central longest; of the two vertical 

 plates, the anterior is the larger; the occipital plate is broad, rounded behind, 

 angular in front, and surrounded by six smaller scales, arranged in two rows. 

 There are five superior orbital plates, most extensive in the transverse direction; 

 these have an inner margin of small scales, and an outer border, consisting of three 

 rows of small scales, forming the margin of the superciliary ridge: the eyelids 

 themselves are covered with minute scales. The margin of the upper jaw is 

 covered with six or seven oblong quadrilateral plates, nearly all of the same size; 

 above these are two or three rows of small scales. The eyes are small and black, 

 and appear sunken, from the projection of the supei'ciliary ridge. The external 

 meatus of the ear is large and oval, most extensive in the vertical direction; in 

 front, it appears serrated from the projection of the points of three or four scales. 

 The neck is contracted and short, and has on each side in front of the anterior 

 extremities a deep oblong depression, covered with a fold of the skin. 



The body is elongated, though full, large, rounded, and covered above with small 

 hexagonal, strongly carinated scales; each carina terminating posteriorly in a 

 sharp, elongated point. These carinte form sharp ridges, which are directed 

 longitudinally on the back, but obliquely on the flanks. The abdomen is broad, 

 flattened, rounded at the sides, and covered with rhomboidal, reticulated, and 

 imbricated scales, each scale terminating posteriorly in a point. The scales on 

 the throat and anterior part of the chest are frequently notched behind instead of 

 ending in a point; those under the chin are very small. The tail is long, cylindrical, 

 and covered with sharp, elongated or imbricated scales, pentagonal or triangular, 

 with their apices rounded, and are verticillated or arranged in circular rows, which 

 renders the tail rough to the touch. 



& 



The anterior extremities are short and rounded, covered above with scales 



