46 TROPIDONOTUS ORNINATUS. 



most extensive vertically, projecting in between the superior orbital and frontal 

 plates; there are three small quadrilateral posterior orbital; the inferior wall of 

 the orbit is completed by the third and fourth labial, of which plates there are 

 seven on each side, quadrilateral to the fourth; the fifth and sixth are pentagonal, 

 the seventh triangular and smaller; the loral plate is quadrilateral and large. 



The nostrils are near the snout, and open outwards, upwards, and backwards. 

 The eye is rather large, the pupil dusky, and the iris greenish-yellow. The neck 

 is contracted. 



The body is elongated, but robust, flattened, and covered with strongly carinated 

 hexagonal scales above, and with plates below. 



Colour. The head is dusky above, tinged with green; the lips are lighter, with 

 a black or dusky bar at the place of junction of the plates. The body and tail 

 above are green, tinged with olive, sometimes with an indistinct vertebral line of 

 lighter colour, which does not seem to be the result of age; there are five longi- 

 tudinal series of small quadrate black spots, generally including parts of two or 

 three adjoining scales; the spots of the different series alternate with each other, 

 or are arranged in a regular quincunx; at the tail they are less regular. The 

 throat and abdomen are greenish-yellow, and each plate is marked near its lateral 

 extremities with a semicircular black spot; which, as they are placed in regular 

 succession, make two longitudinal series along the abdomen. The tail is clouded 

 yellow below, becoming more and more dusky towards the tip. 



Dimensions. Length of head 1 inch; length of body to vent, 18 inches; length 

 of tail beyond vent, 6| inches: total length, 25i inches. In the animal here 

 described, there were 143 abdominal plates, and 66 sub-caudal scales. 



Habits. The Tropidonotus ordinatus prefers meadows and pastures, where the 

 grass is luxuriant, and preys on ^uch insects or small reptiles as may select the 

 same locahties. 



