19. VERTICARIA 567 



Anterior gulars quite large, and abruptly separated from the 

 smaller posterior granules. Scales on collar very large, 

 largest on its edge. Ventral plates in eight longitudinal 

 and about 27 to 29 transverse rows. Back and sides covered 

 with small, smooth, equal-sized granules. Tail somewhat 

 flattened at base, covered with whorls of diagonally keeled 

 scales. Lower caudals smooth proximally. Hind limb as 

 long as distance between anus and front of collar. Ear- 

 opening large, without denticulation. Fifteen to 19 fe- 

 moral pores on each thigh. 



The plates on the head are pale olive. There is one 

 longitudinal wood-brown line along the middle of the back 

 forked anteriorly for from one to 1 7 millimeters. This 

 line is broader than in any other one-lined species, and is 

 much darker in color than the light lateral lines. There are 

 two yellowish white narrow lateral lines. The upper 

 of these lateral lines arises on the superciliary plates and is 

 continued for some distance on the tail. A light stripe on 

 the back of the thigh is continued along the tail. The 

 ground color of the back and sides of the body and neck 

 is dark brown with many black granules, especially along 

 the edges of the light lines. A few specimens have rufous 

 granules on the sides. The limbs are grayish olive brown 

 above. There is a light stripe along the back of the thigh. 

 The tail is light olive, unicolor distally, but proximally 

 showing continuations of the body-stripes. The end of the 

 tail is bright blue in the young. The lower surfaces are 

 bluish or yellowish white, usually with some orange suffu- 

 sion on the throat and gular region. 



