MABUIA. 183 



Genus MABUIA, 

 Fitzinger, N. Classif. Kept. p. 23, 1826. 



Palatine bones in contact mesially; palatal notch separating 

 entirely the pterygoids, extending forward to between the centres 

 of the eyes (see fig. 6, p. 182) ; pterygoid teeth minute or absent. 

 Maxillary teeth conical or bicuspid. Eyelids movable. Ear distinct ; 

 tympanum more or less deeply sunk. Nostril pierced in a single 

 nasal ; suprauasals, praef rentals, and frontoparietal present ; single 

 or double interparietal usually distinct, sometimes coalesced with 

 the parietal s. Limbs well developed, pentadactyle. Digits sub- 

 cylindrical or compressed, with transverse lamellae beneath. 



Distribution. Africa and Madagascar ; Southern Asia ; Central 

 and South America and West Indies. 66 species are known. 



Synopsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Species. 



A. Lower eyelid with an undivided, more 



or less transparent disk. 



a. 28 to 30 scales round middle of body j 



dorsals with 5 to 7 sharp keels. . . . M. bibronii, p. 184. 



b. 34 scales round body; dorsals with 



7 or 9 sharp keels, 2 of which are 



stronger than the others M . doria, p. 184. 



c. 34 to 36 scales round body, dorsals 



strongly hicarinate M. dissimilis, p. 185. 



cl. 34 to 38 scales round body, dorsals 



feebly tricariuate or almost smooth. M. septemtceniata, 185. 

 e. 32 to 34 scales round body, dorsals 



quinquecarinate M. innotata, p. 186. 



B. Lower eyelid scaly, or the transparent 



disk divided into two or more parts. 



a. Dorsal scales with 9 keels M. novemcarinata, p. 187. 



b. Dorsal scales with 3, 5, or 7 keels. 

 a'. No postnasal. 



". Subdigital lamellae keeled M. beddomii, p. 187. 



b", Subdigital lamellae smooth. 

 a. 34 to 36 scales round body, 



dorsals with 3 or 5 keels ; 



suprauasals in contact behind 



rostral ; three light, black- 

 edged dorsal bands M. vertebralis, p. 188. 



j3. 30 to 34 scales round body, 



dorsals with 3 or 5 keels; 



supranasals rarely in con- 

 tact ; six supraciliaries ; a 



light dorso-lateral band .... M. carinata, p. 188. 

 y. 26 to 30 scales round body. 



dorsals with 5 or 7 keels; 



five supraciliaries ; anterior 



loreal deeper than second . . M. mactdaria, p. 189. 

 8. 26 scales round body, dorsals 



and laterals very strongly 5- 



keeled ; anterior loreal not 



deeper than second M. ruffifera, p. 190. 



