MABUIA. 183 



Genus MABUIA, 

 Fitzinger, X. Classif. Ilept. p. 23, 1826. 



Palatine bones in contact mesially; palatal notch separating 

 entirely the pterygoids, extending forward to between the centres 

 of the eyes (see fig. 6, p. 182) ; pterygoid teeth minute or absent. 

 Maxillary teeth conical or bicuspid. Eyelids movable. Ear distinct ; 

 tj'-inpanuin more or less deeply sunk. Nostril pierced in a single 

 nasal ; supranasals, prsef rentals, and frontoparietal present ; single 

 or double interparietal usually distinct, sometimes coalesced with 

 the parietal s. Limbs well developed, pentadactyle. Digits sub- 

 cylindrical or compressed, with transverse lamella) beneath. 



iJistrihuilon. Africa and Madagascar ; Southern Asia ; Central 

 and tSouth America and West Indies. 6G species are known. 



Synopsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Species. 



A. Lower eyelid with an undivided, more 



or less transparent A'lAi. 

 a. 28 to 30 scales round middle of body ; 



dorsals with 5 to 7 sharp keels. . . . M. hibronii, p. 184. 

 h. 3-4 scales round body ; dorsals with 



7 or 9 sharp keels, 2 of which are 



stronger than the others M. dorice, p. 184. 



c. 34 to 30 scales round bod}^, dorsals 



strongly bicarinate M. dissimilis, p. 185. 



d. 34 to 38 scales round body, dorsals 



feebly tricariuate or almost smooth. M. septemtceniata, 185. 



e. -32 to 34 scales round body, dorsals 



quinquecarinate M. ituiotafa, p. 180. 



1). Lower eyelid scaly, or the transparent 

 disk divided into two or more parts. 



a. Dorsal scales with 9 keels M. novemcarinata, p. 187. 



h. Dorsal scales with 3, 5, or 7 keels. 

 a' . No postnasal. 



a" . Subdigital lamellae keeled .... M. beddomii, p. 187. 

 //'. Subdigital lamella; smooth. 

 a. 34 to 3d scales round body, 

 dorsals with .3 or 5 keels ; 

 supranasals in contact behind 

 rostral ; three light, black- 

 edged dorsal bands M. vertebralis, p. 188. 



^. 30 to 34 scales round body, 

 dorsals with 3 or 5 keels ; 

 supranasals rarely in con- 

 tact ; six supraciliaries ; a 



light dorso-lateral baud .... M. cnrinata, p. 188. 

 y. 20 to .30 scales round body, 

 dorsals witli 5 or 7 keels ; 

 five supraciliaries ; anterior 



loreal deeper than second . . M. macula ria, p. 189. 

 8. 20 scales round body, dorsals 

 and laterals ver}' strongly 5- 

 keeled ; anterior loreal not 

 deeper than second M. rugifera, p. 190. 



