DORYURA VULPECULA. 287 



scales, instead of "equal granules." From D. garnoti it differs by a 

 more pointed snout or muzzle, and by the sides of the tail not being 

 denticulated. 



DESCR. We have had an opportunity of examining several speci- 

 mens of both sexes, the largest of which measuring a little over four 

 inches in total length. The general appearance of the species is uni- 

 formly smooth : a trait more or less generic, we concede. The head 

 and body are slender ; both, quite depressed. The head especially is 

 very flat, wedge-shaped, slightly concave upon the middle line of the 

 frontal region. The snout is rather elongated, subacute. The nostril 

 is contiguous anteriorly to the rostral plate, and surrounded upon the 

 rest of its periphery by four very small plates: the inferior one resting 

 upon the first upper labial. The eye is large and circular ; the dia- 

 meter of the orbit entering nearly twice upon the space between its 

 anterior rim and the extremity of the snout. The auricular aperture is 

 small and subcircular. The upper surface of the head, like that of the 

 body, is covered with granular scales, somewhat larger on the fronto- 

 nasal region than on the back, and much smaller than the latter, on 

 the occipital and interocular regions. Under the head, over the hyoid 

 region, properly so called, the granules are equal in size to those along 

 the sides of the body, whilst the mental region exhibits four polygonal 

 shields, disposed upon a square in two pairs, one in advance of the 

 other : the anterior pair being contiguous to the symphyseal plate and 

 the first lower labials ; the posterior pair, somewhat smaller, conti- 

 guous to the former, but separated from the labials by a narrow space, 

 occupied by small scales, which may be traced all along the branch of 

 the lower jaw. The mental shields of the anterior pair are, more- 

 over, contiguous to each other upon the mesial line of the chin, whilst 

 those of the posterior pair are separated from each other, upon that same 

 mesial line, by a few small scales or granules. The sides of the neck 

 are quite swollen, and granular, like the body. At the lower portion of 

 the sides, may be seen a slight ridge, extending from near the axillae 

 to the groins. The abdomen is protected by smooth, subcircular scales, 

 disposed upon longitudinal series, smallest upon the chest, and largest 

 under the thighs, assuming a lanceolated shape upon the preanal region. 

 There are no femoral pores. The upper and posterior surfaces of the legs, 

 inferior surface of the arms and forearms, and upper surface of the toes, 

 are granular like the body, whilst small scales are to be observed upon 



