SACCODEIRA ORNATISSIMA. 325 



and keeled, assuming a granular aspect just behind the auricular 

 aperture, and upon a very small area too. 



The body is rounded, somewhat depressed ; the back slightly con- 

 vex, and the belly flat. It is covered above with subequal, rhombic, 

 conspicuously keeled scales, disposed upon longitudinal series, some- 

 what oblique upwards along the sides, where they are likewise smaller. 

 The abdominal scales are subequal, somewhat smaller also than on 

 the dorsal region, subrhomboid or sublozengiform, smooth, some of 

 them emarginated or bicuspid posteriorly ; diminishing in size as they 

 approximate the sides, showing, at the same time, a slight keel ; 

 about the axillae and groins, they are either very small or else 

 granular. 



The limbs are slender, and of moderate development : the anterior 

 pair, when bent backwards alongside the body, does not extend to the 

 groins; and, when the posterior pair is brought forwards in a similar 

 manner, the tip of the longest toe reaches the auricular aperture; their 

 upper surface is covered with rhombic scales, carinated as far as the 

 tip of the toes, as usual, largest upon the arras and legs than on the 

 forearms and thighs, and smallest on the carpi and tarsi, and lower 

 surface of the fore pair ; under the thighs and legs, they resemble the 

 abdominal ones in shape and structure. The fingers and toes are 

 unequal, compressed, and bicarinated beneath. The nails are slender, 

 compressed, curved, and acute. 



The tail is once and a half as long as the head and body combined ; 

 it is slender and tapering, thick, and depressed at the base; then slightly 

 compressed and conical posteriorly. The scales of its upper surface are 

 equal to those of the back, keeled, and disposed upon longitudinal series; 

 beneath, they are elongated, sublanceolated, equally keeled, and dis- 

 posed upon longitudinal series. On the posterior third, the scales are 

 verticillated, and those of the upper surface are likewise elongated and 

 lanceolated. 



The ground color is greyish-brown above, and, during life, rather of 

 an olivaceous hue, along the upper portion of the flanks. A double 

 series of blackish-brown, light-margined, subtriangular spots may be 

 observed along the back, with their bases parallel to the dorsal line : 

 the spots of either series alternating on the anterior portion of the 

 body, whilst they are opposite each other posteriorly, where they 

 assume the aspect of a continuous transverse band, broadest in the 

 middle, and tapering towards each side. These spots or bands may be 



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