17. XANTUSIA +85 



more interoccipitals sometimes present. A row of small 

 supratemporals along outer edge of occipital and parietal 

 plates. Two large loreals in contact below with superior 

 labials, and above with frontonasal and prefrontal plates. 

 Eye surrounded by a series of small plates, upper five of 

 which are superciliaries. Between this ring and the larger 

 loreal two small plates. Five superior and three inferior 

 labials to a point below pupil. Eye large, without lids and 

 with vertical pupil, its diameter contained about twice in 

 distance from end of snout to orbit. Ear-opening with a 

 very weak anterior denticulation. Symphyseal plate very 

 long. Inferior labials in contact with large sublabials. First 

 pair of latter in contact on median line. Back, sides, upper 

 posterior surfaces of limbs, and gular regions, covered with 

 subhexagonal granular scales. A series of large quadrate 

 plates along edge of last gular fold. Ventrals quadrate, 

 in 14 longitudinal and 33 or 34 transverse rows. Preanal 

 plates arranged in three or four rows, the two medial plates 

 of posterior series being largest. Tail conical, somewhat 

 depressed at its base and covered with whorls of smooth 

 scales which are very narrow and transversely convex. 

 Eight or 10 femoral pores forming a series along each thigh. 

 The ground color above is broccoli brown. On this are 

 numerous large irregular blotches of very dark seal brown, 

 between which run more or less continuous lines of pale 

 yellow. The upper surfaces of the limbs and head are 

 similarly, but less distinctly, marked. The tail is yellow 

 with irregular blotches and half rings of blackish seal brown. 

 The lower surfaces are uniform yellowish white. 



