46 TROPIDONOTUS ORNINATUS. 
most extensive vertically, projecting in between the superior orbital and frontal 
plates; there are three small quadrilateral posterior orbital; the inferior wall of 
the orbit is completed by the third and fourth labial, of which plates there are 
seven on each side, quadrilateral to the fourth; the fifth and sixth are pentagonal, 
the seventh triangular and smaller; the loral plate is quadrilateral and large. 
The nostrils are near the snout, and open outwards, upwards, and backwards. 
The eye is rather large, the pupil dusky, and the iris greenish-yellow. ‘The neck 
is contracted. 
The body is elongated, but robust, flattened, and covered with strongly carinated 
hexagonal scales above, and with plates below. 
Cotour. The head is dusky above, tinged with green; the lips are lighter, with 
a black or dusky bar at the place of junction of the plates. ‘The body and tail 
above are green, tinged with olive, sometimes with an indistinct vertebral line of 
lighter colour, which does not seem to be the result of age; there are five longi- 
tudinal series of small quadrate black spots, generally including parts of two or 
three adjoining scales; the spots of the different series alternate with each other, 
or are arranged in a regular quincunx; at the tail they are less regular. The 
throat and abdomen are greenish-yellow, and each plate is marked near its lateral 
extremities with a semicircular black spot; which, as they are placed in regular 
succession, make two longitudinal series along the abdomen. ‘The tail is clouded 
yellow below, becoming more and more dusky towards the tip. 
Divensions. Length of head 1 inch; length of body to vent, 18 inches; length 
of tail beyond vent, 63 inches: total length, 253 inches. In the animal here 
described, there were 143 abdominal plates, and 66 sub-caudal scales. 
Hasits. The Tropidonotus ordinatus prefers meadows and pastures, where the 
grass is luxuriant, and preys on such insects or small reptiles as may select the 
same localities. 
