368 SATJRIA. 



SUBGENXTS ORTHOLAEMUS, GIRARD. 



CHAR. GEN. Scutis cephalitis minoribus, non imbricatis, laevibus; supra- 

 Idbialibus in tres vel plures series dispositis. Naribus superioribus. 

 Squamis temporalibus laevibus, non imbricatis. Apertura auditoria 

 modica, simplici. Colli lateribus corrugatis, gramdosis ; plicatura 

 praescapulari vertico-obliqua. Squamis dorsualibus parvibus, leviter 

 carinatis, postice obtusis; lateralibus multo minoribus et gramdosis; 

 abdominalibus subrhomboideis vel sublanceolatis, integris vel srdnfimbri- 

 atis. Femorum facie posteriori vel omnino granidosa, vel aSra illim 

 parva, caudam versus, squamis parvis tecta. Colore claro, nigro macu- 

 lato, et interdum punctate. 



GEN. CHAR. Cephalic plates rather small, not imbricated, smooth ; 

 three or more aeries of supralabials. Nostrils superior. Tempo- 

 ral scales smooth, not imbricated. Auricular aperture moderate, 

 simple. Sides of the neck rumpled, granular. A vertico-oblique 

 fold in advance of the shoulder. Dorsal scales small, slightly cari- 

 nated, posteriorly obtuse ; lateral scales a good deal smaller, sub- 

 granular ; abdominal scales subrhomboid or sublanceolated, entire 

 or subfimbriated. Thighs either wholly granular, or with a patch 

 of small scales near the tail. Dark-spotted, upon a light ground, 

 and occasionally speckled also. 



SYN. Ortholaemus, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. November, 1857, 198. 



OBSERV. The dorsal scales present the same general aspect and 

 structure as in Eulaemus, but the lateral ones are much smaller, 

 assuming quite a granular character. The abdominal scales, on the 

 other hand, are subrhomboid or sublanceolated, rather acuminated, 

 with a proclivity of their posterior edge to being fimbriated. The 

 temporal scales are smooth, and not imbricated, and the supralabial 

 plates constitute always more than one series. The auricular aperture 

 is simple. The pattern of coloration is also very peculiar : there are 

 neither longitudinal streaks nor transverse bands; upon a uniform 

 rather light ground, varying in shade according to species, dark spots 

 are irregularly distributed; sometimes interspersed with brighter 

 specks. 



