'Taclu/ilroiiiiis. 139 



i^^ usually narrower beneath than abnve. Temjioral scales small, more 

 or less distinctly keeled; 1, 2 or 3 enlarged upper temporals, the first 

 not in contact with the fourth supraocular ; tympanic shield jn-esent, 

 narrow and elongate. 



Mental broader than long ; 3 pairs of chin-shields,* the first or 

 first and second meeting in the middle ; 20 to 30 gular scales between 

 the symphysis of the chin-shields and the median collar-plate, 

 anterior granular and smooth, posterior enlarged, imln'icate. pointed 

 and keeled, and merging gradually into the collar, which is composed 

 of 8 to 12 pointed, keeled plates. No gular fold. 



Dorsal plates obtusely pointed or rounded behind, in 4 longitudinal 

 series, with 1 or 2 series of smaller plates on the median line, and 

 rarely t with an additional series of small plates between the two outer 

 series, 6 to 8 altogether iu the middle of the body ; often 6, 7 or 8 in 

 front and 4 or 5 liehind : 2 to 4 series of keeled scales near the ventral 

 [ilates, sejjarated from the dorsals by a granular area. Yentral plates 

 in 8 longitudinal and 24 to 30 (usually 26 to 28) transverse series, 

 olitusely pointed, more or less strongly keeled, and shortlv mucronate. 



34 to 48 plates and scales round the middle of the body (usually 



35 to 40). Preaual plate moderately large or rather small, smooth, 

 rarely feebly bicarinate or longitudinally bisected,! often not tiroader 

 than long, with smaller, usually keeled plates in front and on the 

 sides. 



Upper surface of limbs with rhombic keeled scales and granules. 

 A single femoral pore on each side. Subdigital lamella; partly single 

 and partly divided, mostly divided, 23 to 29 under the fourth toe. 



Caudal scales strongly keeled and shortly mucronate. the keels 

 forming four very strong ridges on the upper surface of the Itasal 

 part; the whorls nearly equal iu length, the fourth or fifth containing 

 14 to 18 scales. 



Olive, brown, or coppery red on the iiack, olive, green, or blue on 

 the sides, usually with a light greenish, often black-edged dorsolateral 

 streak, starting from the superciliary edge ; a more or less distinct 

 dark canthal streak and a dark band on the temple and side of neck, 



Cluisaii, and in a young from Chi Kiang opposite Chusan ; 5 on both sides in a 

 male from Kviatun and in a female from Ningpo; on one side iu two males 

 from Kin Kiang and in a female from Shanghai. 



* 3 on one side and 4 on the other in two specimens from Kiu Kiang and 

 in another from Kviatun. A similar example of asymmetry has been observed 

 by Werner. 



t Male and female from Kuatun, female from Shanghai. 



X Female from Kiu Kiang. 



