1885.] ~ u ' [Cope. 



Ctenosaura multispinis sp. nov. 



Head elongate, flat above, muzzle narrowed ; nostril in the second third 

 of the length to the orbit. Three scales on canthus rostralis, each deeper 

 than long. Seven flat scales across muzzle between anterior angles of 

 orbits. Two rows between supraorbital series. Scales above temporal 

 muscles rather large, weakly keeled. Five series of infralabial plates, not 

 separated by smaller ones. Dorsal crest rather elevated in adult, termina- 

 ting at the rump. Median caudal crest composed of conical scales, com- 

 mencing above the posterior margin of the femora. Tail cylindrical at 

 base, covered by whorls of prominent scales with conical points which 

 project strongly, and which are separated by one row of smaller flat 

 scales on the upper half of the tail. On the inferior side of the tail the 

 whorl rows are separated by two intervening rows, which are just like 

 them, having a keel and a mucronate apex. Beyond the middle of the 

 length (end lost) the tail is strongh r compressed, but whether this is due 

 to shriveling on drying, I am not sure. Median series of spinous scales 

 uninterrupted. The abdominal scales are larger than the dorsal, which 

 are longer than the lateral scales ; all are subquadrate, and none are 

 keeled. 



Seven femoral pores. 



Color above and below, black. 



Measurements. M. 



Length from end of muzzle to vent 255 



" to line of axilla 125 



" " line of auricular meatus 062 



Width of head at auricular meatus 042 



" " " above " " 035 



Length of anterior limb 093 



foot 037 



" " posterior limb 150 



foot 076 



I have before me two stuffed specimens of this species, a large one and 

 probably adult, and a smaller and younger one. The former, which I 

 described above, is No. 201 of Sumichrast's collection, and was procured 

 by him at Dondomingvillo, in the State of Oaxaca, and sent to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. The other specimen was obtained near Batopilas, Chi- 

 huahua, by Mr. Edward Wilkinson, and was recorded by me as Cyclura 

 acantliura in the catalogue of his collection, Proceedings American Philo- 

 sophical Society, 1879, p. 201. It agrees with the type specimen in having 

 the distal two-thirds of the tail strongly compressed. The dorsal crest is 

 much less elevated, probably owing to its younger age. The colors are 

 paler, the prevailing tint being light brown with indistinct darker brown 

 cross-bands. 



I find a specimen of this species enumerated as var. B. of Ctenosini.ni, 

 acantlmra by Boulenger in the vol. ii of the Catalogue of the Lizards in 

 the British Museum, p. 197, which has just reached me. 



