50 TROPIDONOTUS LEBERIS. 



two posterior orbital, the inferior smaller and quadrilateral, the superior larger 

 and crescentic; behind these is a single oblong temporal plate; the inferior wall of 

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

 eight on each side, all large and nearly quadrilateral. 



The nostrils are lateral near the snout, and open a little upwards. The eyes 

 are large, the pupil dusky, and the iris golden, with a few black specks. The 

 neck is contracted, and covered with small sub-hexagonal carinated scales. 



The body is elongated, rather slender, and covered above with large hexagonal, 

 strongly carinated scales, slightly notched at their posterior extremity, and with 

 broad plates below. The tail is long, slender, and slightly sub-triangular and 

 compressed at the sides. 



Colour. The superior surface of the head is olive-brown; the lips are straw- 

 colour. The body above is olive-brown, with three longitudinal dusky hues; the 

 belly is pale yellow, with four dusky longitudinal, parallel lines on the plates; 

 those near the lateral extremities are largest, those near the centre of the 

 abdomen smaller. The tail is coloured above like the back, though the lines 

 disappear long before they have reached the tip; below, the lateral lines are 

 continued for some distance, the central ones giving only a waving clouded 

 appearance at the junction of the sub-caudal bifid plates. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 1 inch; length of body, 19 inches; length of tail, 

 7 inches: total length, 27 inches. Dr. Green informs me that he has specimens 

 in his possession much larger than the dimensions above given. In the specimen 

 here described there were 143 abdominal plates, with the anal double, and 70 

 bifid plates under the tail. 



Habits. Not much is known of the habits of the Tropidonotus leberis. Mr. 

 Peale, however, informs me that it is a water-snake; and this might almost 



