SCINCUS aUINaUELINEATUS. 123 



The tail is cylindrical and very long, and covered above with hexagonal scales, 

 a little rounded posteriorly; below, it is covered with five rows of similar scales, 

 and all of the same size, for one-third its length, when their place is supplied by a 

 single row of larger plates, like the sub-caudal plates of the Boa. 



Colour. The head is pale red above to the tip of the snout, and marked with 

 six obscure white lines, two are above each eye and one below. These lines are 

 only remarkable in the young animal; in the very old they become nearly obsolete. 



The body is oUve-brown, and marked with five light coloured lines, more or less 

 distinct; the vertebral line is very dingy white, frequently not evident; it is formed 

 by the junction of the two superior hues of the head, extends to about one-third 

 of the tail, and includes about one-third of two adjoining scales. On each side of 

 this is another line, more distinct, continuous with that above the orbit, and 

 extended to nearly the same distance; this line either takes up a whole scale, or it 

 runs through its centre. Below the latter is still another line, continuous with that 

 beneath the orbit, and is most distinct of all; it is interrupted at the external 

 meatus, but again recommences behind it, and is extended above the shoulder, 

 along the flanks, and terminates on the tail; this also includes one scale, or it 

 passes longitudinally through its centre. Between these two latter lines is a broad 

 dark coloured lateral band. 



The throat and abdomen are white. 



The tail is coloured like the body above, but the hnes are less distinct, and 

 terminate about half its length, when the whole becomes dusky, with a tinge of 

 blue. 



The anterior and posterior extremities are of the same colour as the back 

 above, and are silver-white below, with a short white line on the posterior face of 

 the thigh. 



