CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 687 



the opening of the mouth, and on each side of this are three labials 

 (four on one side) which become successively larger, the posterior as 

 large as all the rest. Above the anterior of these are two other plates. 

 On one side of the rostral plate, and above the first labial, is one with 

 a nasal perforation in the center; but there is none corresponding to it 

 on the other. Behind the terminal plate of the muzzle is a median one- 

 half its width (vertical?), and behind this another (occipital?) as wide 

 as the first. This is subpentagonal, with two large plates in front con- 

 necting it to the terminal one and separated by the second median 

 plate described. On each side of this i^late are two, the anterior very 

 small, and with another immediately below it. This largest central 

 plate is thus encircled by nine plates — three anterior, four posterior, 

 and two lateral. The entire head, exclusive of the lower jaw, has about 

 forty plates. The teeth are long, conical, recurved, and distant. There 

 are about three on each side of each Jaw. 



There are four labials on each side the median mental, which has 

 another plate behind it, followed by two long narrow ones. A long 

 plate against the inner labials connects anteriorly with the latter. 



The body is encircled by a ouccession of whorls or rings of close 

 square plates, about thirty in number. These are narrower above and 

 broader below on the pectoral region (for about six whorls) than else- 

 where. There is a distinct groove or furrow along the back, with an 

 occasional tubercle in it. One in the ventral surface is ranch less dis- 

 tinct. The tail is short, contained about seventeen or eighteen times 

 in head and body. It is much depressed and rounded at the tip; 

 verticillate, but the plates on the upper surface, except anteriorly, are 

 tubercular, rounded and raised, set in the midst of smaller ones. There 

 are fifteen caudal whorls on the under surface. 



This very curious saurian form was first introduced into the North 

 American fauna by Dr. Barratt, who found it at Micanopy, Florida, 

 where it is said to be not uncommon, and to be frecjuently ploughed up 

 in the ])otato patches. It is probably entirely subterranean in its 

 mode of life. It has been since found in nearly all parts of the Floridan 

 zoological district. Living specimens sent me by Mr. C. B. Moore are 

 of a beautiful rose-purple color with a milky bloom, such as is seen on 

 some fruits. Three distinct imrple stripes radiate from the head pos- 

 teriorly, but are soon lost in the surrounding color. 



The specimens were sent me in damp sand, in which they burrowed 

 and remained concealed. Unfortunately they lived but a short time, 

 and a second sending met the same fate. 



