VOL. XVI 



180;;. 



] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 723 



The .specimens before me from the same locality show a remarkable 

 uniformity of color pattern, especially if we consider the great varia- 

 bility of the species. On the other hand, the structural characters — 

 for instance, the relations botweeu frontal and prefrontals, number of 

 scale rows around the body, relative length of limbs, etc. — are subject to 

 great differences in series of specimens from the identical locality. 



This will account for my adopting the above name for three speci- 

 mens from Aldabra Island (iS^os. 20473-20475, collected by Dr. Abbott), 

 notwithstanding the fact that they have only 24 scale rows round the 

 body. In coloration, however, they agree perfectly with specimens 

 from the Hawaiian Islands (Nos. 5700 and 12260, U. S. Exploring Expe- 

 dition) as well as with Wiegmann's colored figure of, A poecilopleurus. 

 from Peru (Nov. Acta Ac. Leop. -Carol., xvir, 1835, pi. viii, fig. 1). 

 They possess the dark lateral band spotted with whitish ; a rather well- 

 defined light band above this, and an olive back with black dots which 

 are most numerous in a line bordering the light band. 



On Gloriosa Island Ave find another form which looks entirely dif- 

 ferent, the status of which will be set forth under the next heading, as 

 I am obliged to give it a new name in order to discuss it intelligently. 



Ablepharus gloriosus, fsn1)8p. nov. 



Diagnosis. — Similar to A. bontonii, but with two white and three 

 blackish very distinct and straight-edged lateral bands; fonr snprala- 

 bials anterior to the subocular; 20 to 22 scale rows round the body. 



Habitat. — Gloriosa Island. 



Typc.—U. S. National Museum, No. 20463; Dr. W. L. Abbott coll. 



Color description. — Top of head and inner half of the two median 

 dorsal scale rows olive brown ; a well-defined brownish black band on 

 either side occupies the outer half of these scales and the inner half 

 of the next scale row, commencing at the outer edge of the suiiraocu- 

 lars, the two black bands joining a little back of the anus and con- 

 tinuing as a median dark band down the upper surface of the tail; 

 below this band on either side an equally well defined white band 

 occupies the next two half scales commencing somewhat indistinctly 

 above the nostrils, proceeding backwards over the superciliaries and 

 scales of upper eyelids, whence the band is well defined, and continu- 

 ing down the tail; below this white band, on either side, another 

 brownish black band occupying on the sides of the body one whole and 

 two half scales, on the neck two whole and two half scales, originating 

 at the nostrils, proceeding backwards through tlie eye and across the 

 temi)oral region, and finally continuing down the sides of the tail; the 

 two next half scales ai'e marked with a well-defined white band which 

 involves the supralabials, passes through the ear-opening and above 

 the fore limb, but stops upon meeting the hind limb; finally, below 

 this there is a dusky ban<l, well defined but not of so dee]) a color as 

 the others, occupying a half and a whole scale row, starthig below the 



