1892] 21d [Cope. 



Tlie teeth liave compressed tridentate crowns ; those of the premaxil- 

 lary bone are not conic, but have also compressed crowns, where traces 

 of denticles are sometimes apparent. 



The remarkable features in the osteology of this genus are (I) the 

 peculiar relations between the parietal and supraoccipital bones, which 

 resemble the structure seen in a sea-turtle ; (2) the wide ectopterygoid ; 

 (8) the absence of lachrymal ; (4) the presence of only three mandibular 

 elements. The affinities are a mixture of those of the Lacertidse and 

 ScincidfB ; the large puslfrontal bones ; the descending processes of the 

 parietals, and the form of the pubes, resembling the corresponding parts 

 in the latter family. The expanded cervical ribs resemble those of the 

 Gecconid genus Phyllodactylus. The relations of the parietal and occip- 

 ital bones are quite different from those found in the Lacertidae and 

 Anguidaj (Gerrhonotus, Celestus, Ophisaurus), where the temporal foss* 

 are also roofed over. In these forms the contact is normal, ^. e., by the 

 elevated median portion of the anterior border of the occipital. 



EuMECES Wiegmann. 



For the determination of the skeletal characters of this genus I have 

 skeletons of the B. obsoletus and E. fasciatus, from the National collec- 

 tion. 



The premaxillary is split as in other Scincidge, and the halves are in the 

 closest contact. The common spine is rather elongate, while the palatal 

 suture i'^ simply emarginate. The nasals are not shortened, and are dis- 

 tinct. The frontal is double, and is simply grooved on the middle line 

 below. The parietal is single, and is pierced by the pineal foramen at 

 about its middle. The parietoquadrate arch is well elevated. The 

 supraoccipital is loosely articulated, presenting a truncate median pro- 

 cess towards, but not to, a median notch of the parietal. Exoccipital dis- 

 tinct by suture. Prefrontal rather large, not sending posteriorly a super- 

 ciliary process, and not produced far above the orbit. Lachrymal small ; 

 not, or very little visible on external facial surface, and reached by a long 

 internal process of the jugal. External surface of jugal separated widely 

 from prefrontal, its postorbital portion much longer, slender, and rising to 

 meet the postfrontal. The latter is large and unequally V-shaped, the 

 posterior limb broad and covering the temporal fossa between the parietal 

 and sup:atemporal bones, with more or less of a fissure next the parietal 

 posteriorly. Postfrontal a splint separating the jugal and supratemporal 

 from the postfrontal. Supratemporal well produced anteriorly, and in 

 contact with the parietoquadrate arch for the posterior two-thirds the 

 length of the latter. Quadrate with one, a deep external conch. The 

 vomers are elongate, and also expanded laterally, passing above the 

 prominent palatine laminae of the maxillary bones. They are in close 

 apposition on the median line, but are so swollen longitudinally as to 

 leave a groove at the common suture. The longitudinal ribs terminate in 

 a pair of appressed hooks whi(^i look downwards and backwards at the 

 posterior extremities of the bones. The vomerine branch of the palatine 



