INTRODUCTION. 



The chief object of preparing the present Catalogue, has been 

 to give at one view a complete Synopsis of all the specimens 

 of Shielded Reptiles at present in the British Museum col- 

 lection, and an account of the species known to exist in other 

 collections, but which are at present desiderata to the British 

 Museum, so as to enable travellers, collectors, and others, to 

 assist in completing the national collection. 



For this purpose a synoptic description has been given of 

 all the genera and species of the shielded reptiles at present 

 known to exist in the different museums and private collec- 

 tions, and at the end of each description is added an enume- 

 ration, stating the state, age, country, and other peculiarities 

 of each specimen of the kind in the Museum collection ; or 

 when the species is not at present in that collection, the mu- 

 seum in which it has been observed is added after the general 

 habitat of the species. The different individuals of each spe- 

 cies containedin the British Museum collection, are indicated 

 by the letters a, b, c, &c. 



When the age of the specimen is not stated, it is to be un- 

 derstood that it is full grown, or nearly so ; when otherwise, 

 its state is marked immediately after the letter by which it is 

 distinguished ; and if the sexes are known, it is stated to be 

 male or female. These particulars are followed by the habi- 

 tat, which is given as particularly as the materials possessed 

 by the Museum permit. 



Those specimens which have been presented to the Museum 

 have the name of the donor marked immediately after the ha- 

 bitat. When there is no such indication, the specimens have 

 been either purchased, or procured in exchange ; and in this 

 case, whenever the place or person from whom they have been 

 received gives authenticity to the specimen, or adds anything 



a2 



