686 



REPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1902. 

 Lint of specimens of Tuplilups iumhricaliti. 



TYPHLOPS ROSTELLATUS," new species. 



iJkignosis. — Snout rounded; nostrils lateral; preocular in contact 

 with third labial onl}^; nasal completely divided in two; two post- 

 oculars; rostral very narrow, one-fifth to one-sixth the width of the 

 head; 18-20 scale rows. 



j^^,^.._U.S.N.M. No. 254(58; Lares, Porto Rico; A. B. Baker, 

 collector. 



Ilahitat. — Porto Rico, West Indies. 



Description of type specimen. — Adult; U.S. N.M. No. 25463; Lares; 

 January 26, 1S!»!>. Head blunt, not depressed, snout projecting, 



rounded laterall}^; nostrils lateral; 

 rostral narrow, about one-sixth the 

 width of the head (1:6.4), not 

 extending as far back as a line 

 between the anterior edge of the 

 eyes; nostril on a suture completely 

 dividing the nasal, the lower ante- 

 rior part in contact with first and 

 second, the upper posterior nasal in 

 contact with second and third; pre- 

 ocular wider than ocular, its anterior angle much produced and rather 

 acute, in contact with third supralabial only; ocular with the anterior 

 border strongly convex, in contact with third and fourth supralabials; 

 supralabials four, the posterior two large and reaching high up on the 

 side; prefrontal, frontal, and interparietal scale-like, subequal; supra- 

 oculars and parietals enlarged, especially the latter; eyo, distinctly vis- 

 ible; 18 scale rows round the body; about 333 scales on the middle 

 line of the body underneath from chin to vent, and 13 under tail; tail 

 ending in a spine. Color uniform dark brown, slightly paler under- 

 neath; through the dark ground color a distinct blackish network can 



145 



147 



Figs. 145-147.— Typhlops rostellatus. 3^ x 

 natural size. 145, top of head; 146, siide of 

 head; 147, underside of head. 



« With reference to the narrowness of the rostral shield. 



