CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 533 



ing scales are prominent. The occipital scute is in contact with seven 

 obtusely keeled scales; in front with the parietal and the two inter- 

 parietals, on each side with an accessory occipital, and behind with two 

 roof-shaped nuchal scales. Each of the subocular regions contains 

 seven plates of uneciual dimensions, with four sui)erci]iary plates on the 

 exterior border. Nostril pierced in the medioposterior i)art of the nasal 

 plate, which is in contact in front with the interuasal, and above with 

 the superior postnasal; posteriorly Avith the inferior postnasal, and 

 below with the two first supralabials. A large loreal scute which is 

 wider above than below, and articulates in front with the postnasals, 

 above with one of the prefroutonasals, with a prefrontal and with a 

 supraocular; behind with the preocular, and on the basal side, which is 

 narrow, with a part of the fourth supralabial. The preocular, much 

 smaller than the loreal, is irregularly quadrilateral; is followed by two 

 or three subocular scutes, the last one of which is generall}' very long. 

 Ten supralabials; the first seven subquadrilateral, the two following 

 pentagonal, and the last one, well developed as to length, terminates 

 in a point. Cheek scales angular and flat. Ear-aperture triangular, 

 bordered in front with two or three small convex scales, and behind 

 with scaly grains. The postgenial scute is sometimes simple, but more 

 frequently it is divided and followed by four pairs of large submaxillary 

 plates; the first pair of these only are in contact on their inner sides; 

 tbe other are separated on their external borders from the inferior 

 labials by a row of scales. Lateral fold strong, having scaly grains 

 similar to those on the sides of the neck; it begins beneath the ear and 

 ends at the side of the cloaca. 



Dorsal scales large and subrhomboidal ; they form twelve to fourteen 

 longitudinal series, and thirty-five to thirty-seven transverse ones from 

 tbe auditory aperture to the posterior border of the thighs; in the dor- 

 sal region they are strongly keeled, and more or less prolonged to a 

 point, and the keels united form six prominent lines. On the flanks 

 these scales are smooth or slightly rounded ; the first transverse series 

 on the neck is composed of eight scales roughly keeled. The ventral 

 plates are shorter, forming twelve longitudinal rows. Tail rounded 

 quadrangular at base, rounded the rest of its length, very tapering at 

 the end, and much longer than the head and trunk combined; it is 

 encircled, when complete, by one hundred whorls of keeled scales, the 

 keels forming prominent lines. Anus bordered with four scutella. 

 Scales of the upper part of the anterior limbs larger than those on the 

 underside; the reverse is found on the posterior limbs; toes covered 

 above and below with well-developed scutella: claws short and hooked. 

 Total length of a type specimen with perfect tail, according to Deppe, 

 177 mm.; from chin to anus, 87 mm.; tail, 90 mm. 



Measurements. — Total length, 3;i0 mm.; length of head from end of 

 muzzle to the middle of oar, 2G mm.; width of head at the borders of 

 the temples, 18 mm.; length of body from chin to anus, 120 mm.; 



