May, 1S45.] 247 



with numerous small granules; the tympanum is circular and placed a little below 

 the surrounding surface ; the extremities are of moderate size, the anterior 

 reach as far as the extremity of the snout : the form of the body is slender, 

 and compressed ; it is covered with scales, which vary according to their situa- 

 tion — in the back they are hexagonal and carinated, in the sides they are more 

 or less circular, with indistinct carinoe, in the abdomen they are quadrangular, 

 and strongly carinated ; the tail is more than twice the length of the body, it is 

 covered with carinated scales. 



Colour. — The head and upper parts of body are of a brownish chocolate 

 colour, variegated with spots of green and yellow ; tail chocolate colour ; under 

 surface of chin, throat, abdomen and extremities, straw colour, with numerous 

 dark coloured spots. 



Dimensio7is. 



Inches. 

 Length of head, - - - - 1| 



Greatest breadth, - f 



Length of body, .... 4 



Length of tail, - 11^ 



The specimens above described were found in the Kepublic of Columbia, 

 within two hundred miles of Caraccas. As far as I have been able to ascertain 

 they are new, with the exception of the Coluber atratus, and the Trigonoce- 

 phaly Colombiensis, both of which are somewhat doubtful ; the latter resem- 

 bles very much the plate of the lanceolutus, as given in the Regne Animal of 

 Cuvier, except that the triangular 'spots upon the sides meet upon the back, 

 whereas, in our specimens — of which there were two — they are distinct. It 

 differs from it also, as above stated, in the number of the abdominal and sub- 

 caudal plates. Among them was a specimen of the Ampleistana fuliginosa. 

 They were all preserved in spirits. 



Descriptions of New Species of African Reptiles. 

 By Edward Hallowell, M. D. 



Calotes versicolor. 



Description. — Head pyramido-quadrangular, longer by one-third in the 

 antero-posterior direction than it is broad posteriorly ; its upper surface is 

 covered with polygonal scales of nearly uniform size, carinated for the most 

 part; occipital scale large, hexagonal; the region in front of the eyes is 

 convex; in its centre are two scales strongly carinated; the posterior or 

 superior one is pentagonal ; the inferior, which is the longest, is quadri- 

 lateral ; supra-orbitar regions very convex, leaving a marked depression be- 

 tween them ; nostrils large, situated near the posterior margin of a large 

 triangular and strongly carinated scale ; rostral plate of moderate size, hexa- 

 gonal, smaller than upon the chin, which is triangulo-pentagonal ; imme- 



29 



