Acanthodadylus. 77 



broader than long- and a little broader than the internarial space ; 

 prefrontals as long as broad or slightly longer than broad, forming a 

 suture ; frontal as long as or shorter than its distance from the end of 

 the snout, about twice as long as broad, rounded or obtusely angular 

 in. front, narrow behind ; parietals as long as broad, outer border 

 straight or concave. Only three large supraoculars, the fourth being 

 replaced by granules ; first as long as or a little shorter than second, 

 from which it is usually separated by a series of granules, second a 

 little shorter than third ; one series of granules, or one in front and 

 two behind, between the second and third supraoculars and the super- 

 ciliaries, which are 6 or 7, rarely 8 in uuml)er, the first the longest. 

 Anterior loreal shorter than second ; subocular sharply keeled below 

 the eye and usually bordering the mouth, between the fourth and fifth 

 upper labials.* A single upper temporal; temporal scales granular and 

 smooth, upper a little smaller than the lower ; tympanic shield usually 

 present : a more or less distinct denticulation in front of the 

 tympanum, formed liy 4 or 5 rounded or olitusely pointed scales. 



5 or 6 pairs of chin-shields, the first three in contact in the middle. 

 28 to 33 gular scales in a straight line between the symphysis of the 

 chin-shields and the median collar-plate, juxtaposed in front, larger 

 and imbricate near the collar ; gular fold indistinct. Collar free, 

 curved, composed of 10 or 11 plates. 



Scales granular and smooth on the nape, rhombic, flat, subimbricate 

 and keeled on the body, gradually increasing in size towards the 

 posterior part of the back, where they are much smaller than the 

 caudals, small on the sides ; 56 to 63 scales across the middle of 

 the l)odv, 18 to 22 in a transverse series between the hind limbs. 

 Ventral plates in regular longitudinal and transverse series, all except 

 the outermost broader than long, liut not twice as broad as long, or 

 some only as broad as long, in lU longitudinal and 29 to 31 transverse 

 series. One or two enlarged median preanal plates or, in females^ 

 preanal region covered with subequal irregular plates. 



21 to 25 femoral pores on each side,t the two series meeting in the 

 middle. Digits with 3 series of scales ; toes with moderately strong 

 lateral denticulation, usually more developed on the outer side 

 of the fourth toe, but longest lobes always less than the diameter 

 of the toe ; 24 or 25 uuicarinate lamellae under the fourth toe. 



Upper caudal scales large, the basals broader than long, sharply 

 keeled, lower smooth or obtusely keeled on the basal part of the tail ;. 

 22 or 24 scales in the fourth or fifth whorl. 



* Only two exceiDtions out of 14 specimens, according to Blanford. 

 t Up to 27 according- to Blanford. 



