Tropidosaura . 161 



obtuse, as long as the distance between tlie eye and the tympanum. 

 Parietal foramen present. Pterygoid teeth present. Neck as broad 

 as the head. Limbs short, just meeting when adpressed, or hiud 

 limb reaching the wrist; foot not or but little longer than the head; 

 digits short. Tail 1^ to 2^ times the length of head and body. 



Nostril pierced between two or three shields. Nasals forming a 

 short suture, or rostral forming a narrow or broad suture with the 

 fi'ontouasal, which is broader than long and broader than the inter- 

 narial space, and longer than the suture between the prefrontals; 

 frontal as long as or a little longer than its distance from the end of 

 the snout. If to 2i times as long as broad, as broad as or a little 

 broader than the supraoculars, of equal width throughout ; fronto- 

 pai'ietals much shorter than the frontal ; parietals 1^ to If times as 

 long as broad ; interparietal Ij to 2 times as long as broad ; occipital 

 small, its posterior border convex and projecting beyond the parietals. 

 Four supraoculars, first very small or reduced to a granide, second 

 longer than third, fourth small but much larger than first ; four 

 superciliaries, in contact with the supraoculars, second usually longest. 

 Usually two superposed postnasals,* the lower exceptionally forming 

 a suture with the rostralt ; anterior loreal as long as or a little shorter 

 than second ; 4 upper labials anterior to the subocular, which is mucli 

 narrower beneath than above and borders the mouth. Two large 

 upper temporals, as in Lacerta agilis, first forming a broad suture 

 with the fourth supraocular; a series of small shields between the 

 upper temporals and the parietals exceptionally present+ ; temple with 

 moderate or rather large shields, the upper of which may be keeled ; a 

 large tympanic shield. 



(lular scales large and imbricate, passing gradually intu the veutrals ; 

 no gular fold.§ 



2.5 to 31 scales and plates round the body ; dorsals and laterals much 

 longer than broad, strongly keeled and niucrouate ; ventral plates in 

 6 longitudinal and 23 to 26 transverse series, those of the second row 

 from the median line broader than the others. A large or rather 

 large preanal plate, bordered by one or two semicircles of smaller 

 plates. 



Scales on upper surface of tiliia rliombic, subimbricate, keeled. 4 to 



* A single shield in one of the types of T. biirchelli (male). 



t In a male from Peri Bush. 



i In another male from Peri Bush. 



§ In one of the types of T. burchelli, female, there are only four pairs of large 

 chin-shields instead of the usual five, the two anterior forming a median 

 suture. 



VOI,. II. 11 



