668 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



ANELYTROPSIS PAPILLOSUS Cope. 



Anelytropsis papilloi^KS Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 1885, ]>. 380, pi. fig. <).— 

 BouLENGKH, Cat. I.iz. Brit. Mus., 2d ed., II, 1885, p. 431. 



Form slender. Tail moderately long, with obtuse extremity. Scales 

 scincoid, with rounded edges, everywhere equal, including the preanal 

 region. Color brownish flesh color. 



The head is distinguishable from the body by its slightly greater 

 width, and is slightly contracted at the position of the orbits, and con- 

 tinued as a distinct muzzle. The body is cylindrical, and the tail is a 

 little longer than one-fourth the total length. Twenty longitudinal 

 series of scales. The area represented by the rostral plate of Acontias 

 is invaded on each side by two labial ]»lates, and a large loreal above 

 them. Behind the second labial plate is a very small third, and above 

 it is a large ocular plate which extends upward and forward to a line 

 with the superior border of the loreal. The pale spot which represents 

 the eye is situated in the lower i:)osterior corner. The fourth and last 

 labial is a little larger than the second, and has a narrowly rounded 

 posterior extremity. Above it is a small postocular, which is in con- 

 tact with the posterior frontal. On the summit of the hrad there are 

 three scuta. The anterior, or anterior frontal, is the smallest. It forms 

 a transverse band between the loreal and ocular of one side and those 

 of the other. The succeeding plate, the postfrontal, is the largest. It 

 is succeeded by the parietal, which is a transverse plate, concave in 

 front and convex posteriorly, and which is separated from the post- 

 ocular on each side by a single scale. Posterior to this scute, the scales 

 of the body begin. 



There is a large symphyseal plate which is a triangle with its apex 

 posterior and truncate. It is bounded on each side by a very large 

 inferior labial, which is also a triangle. This is followed on the labial 

 margin by two very small labial plates. A small body scale succeeds 

 the symphyseal, and this is connected with the small posterior labials 

 by a narrow i)late on each side. These are followed by the body scales. 

 Six laterally imbricated scales bound the vent in front. 



Measurements. — Total length, 170 mm.; length of tail, 45 mm.; of 

 head, to line connecting rictus oris, 41 mm. 



The rostral, loreal, and anterior two labial scuta are marked with 

 minute papilla), which, when removed, leave punctiform impressions. 

 They are not very closely placed. Two specimens from near Jalapa. 

 None in the U. S. National Museum. 



