May, 1844.] 59 



bitar and the parietal plate ; there is no occipital, but immediately 

 behind the parietal are two oblong scales, much larger than the 

 rest, presenting numerous striae, or elevated lines upon their pos- 

 terior margin ; the labial plates are seven in number, of these the 

 fifth is most remarkable, it is regularly quadrilateral, oblong, and 

 much larger than either of the others, forming of itself one-half 

 of the inferior margin of the orbit; the second, third and fourth, 

 are rhomboidal ; the first is irregularly quadrilateral ; the sixth 

 and seventh are pentagonal ; the ear is of moderate size ; its in- 

 ferior margin is bordered with numerous small granules, and 

 there are two or three small scales in front ; the scales upon the 

 body are hexagonal, more or less rounded posteriorly ; those upon 

 the back, sides, and tail, present fine carina? upon their surface, 

 all of which are very distinct ; here and there a smaller one may 

 be observed at each extremity of a scale; there are eight scales 

 immediately in front of the anus of nearly equal size. 



Colour. The head, back, and upper part of the tail is of a bronze 

 colour, with numerous spots of black ; these spots are more abun- 

 dant, and somewhat larger upon the upper part of the tail ; there 

 is a row of white spots extending along the side of the neck and 

 body as far as the extremity of the tail ; a broad black band 

 passes along the side of the body, and one immediately behind 

 the orbit as far as the posterior extremities, becoming indistinct 

 upon the tail ; immediately below this is a white narrow vitta, 

 commencing near the anterior extremity of the orbit and termina- 

 ting in a line with the inferior extremity of the forearm when 

 placed in contact with the side of the body ; under surface of chin, 

 throat, abdomen and extremities of a light silvery gray colour, 

 slightly tinged with green ; a number of small conglomerated 

 spots of a black colour are observed upon the chin. 



Dimensions. 



Length of head, - 



Greatest breadth posteriorly, 



Length of body, ----- 



Length of tail, ----- 



" anterior extremities, 



" posterior, " 



Habitat. — Liberia, W. Africa. This species was presented to 



