320 



S A U R I A. 



the temporal region. The eyelid is covered with crowded granules, 

 assuming a pavement-like aspect upon the lower one, on the middle 

 of which is observed a transparent area. There is but one series of 

 elongated and unequal supralabials, the middle ones being wider than 

 the upper labials. The latter, six on either side, are elongated, increas- 

 ing in size posteriorly to the penultimate one; the seventh being equal 

 to the first or second : it is followed by three or four, very small, which 

 are lost in the midst of the scales about the angle of the mouth. 

 The symphyseal is triangular. The lower labials, six on either side, 

 are largest anteriorly, gradually decreasing posteriorly ; they are like- 

 wise followed by three quite small plates, resembling the adjacent 

 scales. The mental shields are conspicuous ; they consitute two 

 diverging series, from the symphyseal and the first labial, to which 

 the anterior shield is contiguous : the former being entirely inclosed 

 posteriorly by the first pair of these shields, which decrease rapidly in 

 size backwards, so as to disappear amongst the scales; as many as five 

 pairs may be distinctly counted. The scales under the head are small, 

 elongated, and slender anteriorly, sublozenge-shaped posteriorly, and 

 very small immediately under the throat, where a cross fold of the 

 skin may be observed. Two oblique and conspicuous folds are seen 

 on each side of the neck : the posterior one situated immediately in 

 advance of the shoulder. The scales on these folds are quite small, 

 granular, and subgranular. 



The body is elongated, depressed : the back being subconvex, and 

 the belly flat. There is no dorsal crest or ridge. The dorsal scales 

 are small, carinated, imbricated, subrhombic, or sublozenge-shaped, 

 disposed, along the dorsal region, upon longitudinal series, converging 

 towards the medial line of the back ; they diminish in size towards 

 the flanks, upon the lower portion of which they constitute trans- 

 verse series, becoming granular about the axillae and groins. The 

 flanks, themselves, exhibit no longitudinal fold of the skin. The 

 abdominal scales are smooth, disposed upon transverse and oblique 

 series; subrhombic upon the chest and under the pelvis, subtrapezoid 

 on the abdomen, properly so called ; in size nearly equal to those of 

 the medial region of the back, except on the chest and in advance of 

 the shoulders, where they are somewhat larger. 



The limbs are of moderate development : the anterior pair, when 

 extended backwards alongside the body, reach the groins with the 

 extremities of the longest fingers, while the posterior pair, similarly 



