SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIES. 177 



known, while in Cuba, since there is but a single species and that a very rare one, 

 there are but few, and those only among the more observant country people, 

 who know and fear it. 



The locality records for the comparatively few specimens which have 

 reached museums and which have borne full data make it appear that the 

 species occurs throughout the Island. 



Xantusiidae. 



50. Cricolepis typica (Gundlach & Peters). 



Plate 4, fig. 2; Plate 11, fig. 1. 



Diagnosis: — A very small, short hmbed ground-Uzard ; with a long fleshy 

 tail ; large plate-Uke scales on the head and extremely small, even, rounded scales 

 in transverse series all over the upper surface of body, and series of squarish 

 scales on the tail; lower surfaces with rows of larger scales. 



Description.- — Adult M. C. Z. 8,512. Cuba: Cabo Cruz, near the Ught- 

 house. Spring of 1913. Thomas Barbour. 



Rostral pentagonal forming an obtuse angle behind; nostril pierced be- 

 tween two nasals ; anterior nasals in contact behind the rostral ; a pair of squarish 

 frontonasals and a similarly shaped pair of sUghtly larger prefrontals; frontal 

 large, heptagonal, the posterior region expanded; four supraoculars, first very 

 small, third largest; a large interparietal with straight edge next the frontal, 

 bulging or rounded sides and an obtuse angle behind; a small frontoparietal 

 on each side, between the supraoculars, the frontal, the interparietal, and a 

 large temporal, which forms a suture with the interparietal and the parietal; 

 two loreals, second larger; temporal region vnth slightly enlarged flat scales 

 of irregular shape, mosaiced in a pavement-like manner; seven upper labials; 

 mental a trapezoid, followed by a heptagonal postmental and three large chin- 

 shields on each side, the first pair forming a long suture; lower labials about 

 equal in size to upper. A strong ring-fold separates head from neck; the 

 gular scales anterior to the fold sHghtly enlarged, flat, squarish to roundish, 

 those between the fold and collar generally roundish and slightly less flat. 

 Scales of upper surfaces small, equal, granular in transverse series; ventrals 

 much enlarged, square, forming eight (six large and two smaller) longitudinal 

 rows and twenty-six transverse series. Four square preanals, posterior pair 

 larger. Limbs weak; digits short with two rows of minute tubercular scales 



