CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 503 



The greater number of species of this geuus is West Indian, and no 

 species has been found in continental South America. Three species 

 occur in Central America, one of them, C. emieagrammus Cope, on the 

 southern borders of the Mexican Plateau, and thus coming within the 

 scope of this work; and two, C. hilohatus O'Shaughnessy, and C. cijano- 

 chloris Cope,' in the high mountains of Costa llica. This genus is one 

 of the few which occur in both the West Indian and Central American 

 regions. The genus ])i2)IoglossHs occurs in tropical South America and 

 in southern Central America. 



The species of Celestus difler as follows : 



I. riefrontonaaal plate. 

 A. Scales in 32-38 rows. 



Keels of the scales 11, all equal, on ])osterior regions ; anterior scales smooth, 

 together iu 36 rows; nasal plate extending to rostral; two loreals, both 

 higher than long; ear minute, head and limbs very short, latter .75 for- 

 mer and .2 from axilla to groin; a blackish lateral band above, cross-lined 

 before, spotted behind C. pleii Dumeril and Bibron. 



Keels of the scales 15, all equal; one postnasal, two frenals, both on labials; 

 ear meatus small. Serpentiform, fore limb tive-sixths head. Brown, with 

 dark lateral band above C. sagrce Cocteau. 



Keels of scales equal, 10 to Iti, smooth on front of body; postnasals; two 

 or three loreals; limbs well developed; dorsal scales with a yellow or 

 blue center, forming lines which become obsolete in the old; side black- 

 ish C. emieagrammus Cope. 



Scales in 36 rows, each witii a central keel, which are very prominent on the 

 tail; limbs weak, not meeting when oppressed; gray, with brown cross 

 bands, which vauisli on the sides C. rugosiis Cope. 



Scales in 33 rows, each with a dozen striie and no median keel except on the 

 tail, where they are strong; head scales striate, parietal and interparietal 

 plates grooved; two pairs of loreals, each pair vertical; limbs strong; 

 golden above, blue below ('. eyanocldoris Cope. 



Scales in 37 rows, striated, but not keeled; head smooth; two loreals in hori- 

 zontal line ; sides with vertical brown patches. C. hilohatus O'Shaughnessy. 

 AA. Scales in from 40 to .56 longitudinal rows. 



Scales 41-42 rows; keels 14 ; none larger; head narrow, sharp, muzzle longer 

 than interorbit.al width; Iront plane; parietal separated from supraorbi- 

 tals by two plates, loreal longer than high; gray, sides black, cross- 

 banded; loreal higher than long C. phoxinua Cope. 



Scales 41-42 rows; keels 15, a median stronger; front convex; distance be- 

 tween orbits in front e(|Ual length muzzle; both loreals higher than long; 

 one plate between i)ari(;t;il and supraorbitals; brown, a deep brown dorso- 

 lateral band, and numerous longitudinal series of brown spots on the 

 back C. neiulandii Cope. 



Scales 41-42 rows; keels 25, none larger; head flat, acute, muzzle longer than 

 interorbital width; many closcj, short bay stripes; loreal higher than 

 long C. hadius Cope. 



Scales 41-42 rows; keels 25 to 35, one median much stronger; head shorter, 

 obtuse, muzzle equal width between eyes; unicolor, with vertical lateral 

 bars ; two loreals, longer than high C. stenurus Cope. 



iProc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1894, p. 200. 



