TARAGUIRA. 317 



scales, a good deal larger than those of the dorsal region, larger also 

 around the forearm and leg than on the arm and thigh ; they are 

 nearly alike on the carpus and tarsus, palm of the hands, and sole of 

 the feet ; the only differences observed consist in being more or less 

 elongated and more or less developed : they are conspicuously smaller 

 on the palm of the hands. Under the thighs and legs, the scales 

 resemble in shape those of the abdominal region, as well as in being 

 smooth ; they are very small upon the interfemoral region and about 

 the vent also. The fingers and toes are subcircular or subcompressed, 

 scaly all around, crested beneath, owing to the projection of the keels 

 beyond the edge of the scales. The nails are compressed, curved, and 

 acute. The tail is elongated, subconical, and tapering into a point, 

 somewhat depressed anteriorly. It is protected by rather large, sub- 

 verticillated, and conspicuously carinated scales, except under its ante- 

 rior third, where they are smooth; rhombic or subrhombic at the base, 

 they become subtrapezoid posteriorly, and finely lanceolated towards 

 the last third of its length. 



As to the coloration, we observe that the upper regions, in the male, 

 are of a very dark olive, without scarcely any spots or other markings, 

 whilst in the female, the ground hue is a good deal lighter, and over 

 which are scattered black and white specks, largest upon the limbs 

 and tail : the upper surface of the head being unicolor. The inferior 

 regions are of a uniform light tint, except under the head, where 

 angular dark lines are observed, conspicuous and distinct in the female, 

 confluent in the male, so as to give to that region an almost uniform 

 dark appearance. The zone between the lateral folds of the body, is 

 posteriorly jet-black in some specimens, and yellow or white in others. 



Loc. Peru. " Small specimens were taken as far in the interior 

 as the hills about Lima ; but, we found it most common, and the 

 largest and finest specimens, about the stones on the top of the beach, 

 near the mouth of the Rimac. Lima specimens had oval spots on the 

 back." 



GEXUS TARAGUIRA, GRAY. 



GEN. CHAR. Head depressed, subtriangular from above, covered with 

 unequal plates, with a rather large occipital, and moderate supra- 

 oculars. Nostrils lateral, situated immediately above the rostral 

 ridge, and directed outwardly backwards. A transverse fold under 



80 



