346 



SAURIA. 



That notch, however, is owing to the fact that the keels, which are 

 obsolete there, do not always extend to the posterior margin of the 

 scales. The upper surface of the anterior limbs is covered with scales, 

 similar to, but smaller than those on the back, obtuse and smooth upon 

 their anterior aspect and on the carpus ; under the forearm they are 

 very small and smooth, increasing in size under the arm, and again 

 diminishing towards the palm of the hand, which is entirely covered 

 with them, and not only carinated and posteriorly acerated, but pro- 

 vided also with a lateral acute process, particularly developed upon the 

 metacarpal region. The fingers are plated and smooth above ; they 

 are provided beneath with small scales, carinated, acerated, and dis- 

 posed upon regular transverse series. The hind limbs and the feet 

 are covered above with scales similar but smaller than those on the 

 back, and larger than on the fore-limbs, carinated even over the feet. 

 The anterior aspect of the tibia and metatarsus exhibits very small, 

 almost granular scales. The posterior aspect of the thighs is granular, 

 whilst their inferior aspect is covered anteriorly with scales similar to 

 those of the abdomen, and posteriorly with three or four series of sub- 

 carinated scales, somewhat acute, and projecting beyond the surface 

 of these organs, the external series being the most developed. On the 

 soles of the feet, the scales are quite small, acute, and more distinctly 

 keeled. . The toes are surrounded with small subverticillated scales, 

 more uniform and more distinctly keeled beneath than above. The 

 scales are somewhat larger at the base of the tail than on the back. 



The ground color is olivaceous-brown or blackish. The upper sur- 

 face of the head is either unicolor or dotted with blackish ; its sides 

 generally exhibit two or three oblique and black lines, extending from 

 beneath the orbit towards either the margin, or the angle of the mouth. 

 The suborbital ridge may be black also. There are two parallel light 

 streaks, on the sides of the body : the uppermost extending from the 

 supraciliary ridge to a portion of the tail ; the lower one extends from 

 the temporal region across the upper edge of the auricular aperture, 

 and above the insertion of the fore-limb, to the groin. The dorsal re- 

 gion sometimes is lighter than the sides, having then the appearance of 

 a broad streak. There are two series of black, transversely elongated 

 spots, with a light margin : the intervening space being dark brown. 

 The first series follows the inner edge of the upper streak ; the 

 second is inclosed between the two streaks. The lower half of the 

 flanks, beneath the lower streak, is covered with irregularly vertical, 



