190 TELOBATlDii. 



than the lower, and rarely extending forwards as far 

 as the level of the spiraculum ; the depth of the mus- 

 cular portion at its base one-third to two-fifths of the 

 greatest total depth. 



Beak white, with a black margin. An inverted 

 fold at the side of the lip ; this is furnished with a 

 single row of papillae except on the upper border, 

 which is toothed. Labial teeth in \ or \ series, the 

 second and third, both above and below, the longest; 

 the first and second series in both divisions of the lip 

 uninterrupted, or the second upper with very slight 

 median interruption, the others separated in the 

 middle and gradually decreasing in length to the fifth, 

 which if present is short. According to Bedriaga, 

 there may be as many as six series of teeth on the 

 lower lip, the first three of which are uninterrupted. 



Lines of crypts usually very apparent, but some- 

 times very indistinct. On the head they approach 

 each other between the nostrils and completely border 

 the eye posteriorly, the anterior extremities of this 

 naso-orbital hoop approaching each other above the 

 upper lip. Of the two dorsal lines, which diverge 

 posteriorly, the upper, extending to the dorsal edge of 

 the muscular portion of the tail, is interrupted at a 

 short distance behind the eye ; its anterior portion 

 may even descend to join the lower line, which thus 

 appears bifurcated in front; the lower line extends, 

 usually uninterrupted, from behind the eye to the 

 middle of the muscular portion of the tail, where it is 

 lost ; both lines, however, may stop short of the tail. 

 A sinuous line, on the flanks, curved above the spira- 

 culum, not bent upwards posteriorly, sometimes ex- 

 tending nearlv to the orio-in of the hind limbs. In 

 addition to these lines a short horizontal branch 

 originates above the upper lip, and bifurcating below 

 the vertical of the anterior border of the eye, forms a 

 hoop which descends to the sides of the throat. 



Coloration usually varying from pale grey to olive- 

 brown above, the sides with pale metallic spots ; the 



