330 



S A U R I A. 



SPEC. CHAR. Labial plates narrow and long, somewhat larger than 

 the supralabials, which are disposed upon two series. Temporal 

 scales imbricated. Auricular aperture small. One series of infra- 

 labials, narrower than the lower labials. Three pairs of mental 

 shields. Three pectinated crests, one along the dorsal line, and 

 one on each side of the back. Emerald-green above, with five series 

 of subovate, chestnut-brown, black-margined spots. The lateral 

 pectinated crest of a bright yellow. Head transversely streaked 

 with bright yellow, also. Sides and limbs variegated with brown, 

 upon a fawn-yellow ground. Beneath whitish. 



SYN. Proctotretus pectinatus, BELL, Zool. of Beagle, V, Kept. 1843, 18. PI. ix, 

 fig. 2. 



Ptygoderus pectinatus, GRAY, Catal. Lizz. Brit. Mus. 1845, 216. 



Proctotretus splendidus, GRD. in Proc. Aead. Nat. Sci. Philad. November, 1857. 



DESCR. The general appearance of this species is rather short and 

 thickish. The body is depressed, wider than deep. The head, which 

 is separated from the body by a somewhat contracted neck, is depressed 

 also, though convex upon its upper surface, and very much declivous from 

 the orbital region forwards, giving to the snout a wedge-shaped appear- 

 ance : the jaws being even. The cleft of the mouth, in advance of the 

 orbit, is subconcave, and its angle nearly horizontal. The auricular 

 aperture is small, subcircular, or vertically subovoid, overlapped ante- 

 riorly and superiorly by a conspicuous, subconical scale. The limbs 

 are moderate in their development : the anterior being more slender 

 than the posterior, and, when brought backwards in a line with the 

 body, the tips of the fingers are far from reaching the groins. On the 

 other hand, in bringing forwards the posterior limbs, the tip of the 

 longest toe is made to reach the axilla. The tail is very thick, and 

 depressed upon its base, but very soon diminishes posteriorly, where 

 it tapers into a conical point, being altogether longer than the body 

 and head combined. 



The upper surface of the head is covered with small, subrhomboid, 

 imbricated, and carinated plates : the largest may be observed upon 

 the occipital region, then, along the line of the vertex, towards the 

 frontal region ; they being smallest above the eyes. The supraciliary 

 ridge is conspicuous, composed of six or seven elongated and thin plates, 

 except the anterior one, which is stout and short. The nostrils are 

 situated upon the prolongation of that ridge, mayhap, slightly inwardly, 



