272 iiacerticlx. 



Upper bead-shields flat, smootli. JSasuls in contact with each other 

 behind the rostral, the suture between them ^ to |^ the; length of the 

 frontonasal, which is broader than long ; prefrontals as long as bi-oad 

 or a little broader, forming a suture in the middle ; frontal as long as 

 or a little longer than its distance from the end of the snout, 1 j to 2 

 times as long as broad, narroAv behind; parietals as long as liroad or 

 slightly longer ; interparietal as large as or a little smaller than the 

 frontoparietals, often followed by a small shield ; occipital minute or 

 absent, the parietals meeting in the middle. First supraocular small 

 and in contact with the frontal, usually broken up into small shields 

 or granules, fourth very small and sometimes broken up; 5 to 7 

 superciliaries, first longest ; a series of granules between the supra- 

 oculars and the superciliaries. Three nasals, lower in contact with 

 the rostral and the first upper labial ; anterior loreal 1^ to 2^ times as 

 long as deep, shorter than the second ; 4, rarely 5, ujiper labials 

 anterior to the suboctdar, Avhich is keeled below the eye and borders 

 the mouth. Temporal scales small, granular, lower larger ; a narrow 

 tympanic shield ; no auricular denticulation. Lower eyelid with a 

 semitransparent disc divided into 5 to 8 scales. 



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

 the last narrow ; 23 to 30 gular scales in a sti'aight line between the 

 symph3'sis of the chin-shields and the median collar-plate; no gular 

 fold. Collar free or attached in the middle, with 8 to 12 jilates. 



Scales juxtaposed, granular, round and smooth, larger towards the 

 ventral plates, 31 to 40 across the middle of the body. Ventral plates 

 in 10 regular longitudinal and 29 to 33 transverse series, mostly as 

 long as broad or a little broader than long, the outer longer than 

 broad. Preanal plate moderately large or rather small, bordered by 

 two semicircles of smaller plates. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia subrhomboidal and juxtaposed, 

 smooth or obtusely keeled, a little larger than dorsals ; one series of 

 large and one or two of small plates on the lower surface. 11 to 15 

 femoral pores on each side. Subdigital lamellae tricarinate, 20 to 23 

 under the fourth toe. 



Upper caudal scales oblique, truncate behind, strongly and diagonally 

 keeled, lower smooth ; 20 to 24 in the fourth or fifth whorl. 



Fawn-coloured or pale grey above, with or without small brown 

 spots, which may be irregular or disposed in two longitudinal series 

 on the back, with or without small whitish spots ; a dark brown 

 lateral band, often bearing white spots, bordered below by a white or 

 yellowish lateral streak passing through the tyni[ianuni ; upper surface 

 of limbs marbled with ])r()wn or witli while sjiots. Lower parts wliite. 



