124 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



subhexagonal frontonasal. Behind this, two prefrontals 

 (in contact), bordered posteriorly by single broad 

 frontal and first superciliary plates. Each of two 

 frontoparietal plates forming sutures with frontal, sec- 

 ond, third, and fourth superciliaries, first supratemporal, 

 parietal, interparietal, and its fellow of opposite side. 

 Parietals and very large interparietal bordered behind by 

 two large occipitals. A row of small supratemporal scutes 

 along outer edge of occipital and parietal plates. Two 

 large loreals in contact below with superior labials and 

 above with frontonasal and prefrontal plates. A large 

 postnasal in front of first loreal. A series of small plates, 

 upper of which are superciliaries, usually surrounding 

 eye. Between this ring and larger loreal, two or three 

 small plates. Four or five superior and three or four 

 inferior labials to a point below middle of eye. Eye 

 large, without lids, with vertical pupil. Its diameter 

 contained about twice in distance from end of snout to 

 orbit. Oblique ear-opening with a very weak anterior 

 denticulation. Inferior labials in contact with large 

 sublabials. First pair of latter in contact on median 

 line. Back, sides, upper and posterior surfaces of 

 limbs, and gular regions, covered with subhexagonal 

 granules. A series of large plates along edge of last 

 gular fold. Ventrals quadrate, in twelve longitudinal 

 and twenty-seven to thirty transverse series. Large 

 preanal plates arranged in two rows of two each, some- 

 times surrounded by a few smaller scales or granules. 

 Tail conical and covered with whorls of smooth, narrow, 

 and transversely convex scales; its length very variable. 

 Six to ten femoral pores forming a series along each 

 thigh. 



The ground color in different specimens varies from 

 smoke gray, through many shades of yellow and brown, 



