287 



MABOUYA SCINK. 



Laccrta Mabouya. L. subaurafo-flai-cscens, lateribus subfusds, 

 pedibus brerilms, maxillis (equalibus, cauda mediocri. 



Gilded-yellowish Lizard, with brownish sides, short legs, jaws 

 of equal and tail of middling length. 



Le Mabouya. Cepede orip. p. 378.pl. 34. 



THE Mabouva, according to the Count de Ce- 



, O 



pede, who has described and figured it in his His- 

 tory of Oviparous Quadrupeds, is extremely allied 

 to the Scink, from which, indeed, on a cursory 

 view, it scarce differs, except in having somewhat 

 shorter legs in proportion, and jaws of equal 

 length ; whereas in the Scink the upper jaw is 

 longer than the lower. The length of the indi- 



o ~ 



vidual described by the Count de Cepede was 

 eight inches : the ground colour is a kind of 

 gilded yellow*, but the scales on the back are 

 sometimes much darker with a white speck or line 

 on each : along; the sides of the bodv runs a 



i^ / 



dusky or deep brown band, beneath which the 

 colour is much paler, forming almost a white 

 band : the colour of this animal, however, like 

 that of the preceding species, appears to vary in 

 different specimens. It is a native of America, 

 as well as of Jamaica and other West-Indian 

 islands. It is also found, according to Cepede, 



* This species seems much allied to the L. aurata of Linrueus, 

 the synonyms to which in the Systcma Naturae seem to be ap- 

 plied with no very great precision. 



