102 Zoological Society : — 



two series of broad band-like scales down the vertebral line of the 

 back, which are continued on the upper surface of the base (and pro- 

 bably of the whole length) of the tail ; but the single specimen which 

 I have seen has evidently had the end of the tail reproduced and 

 covered with abnormal scales. The tail is depressed, and has a 

 series of prominent keeled scales, forming a dentated keel on each 

 side. 



This genus I consider forms a distinct family, which may be called 

 HoLASPiD^, distinguished from Laeertinidce by the form of the tail 

 and the peculiarities of the scales. 



1. HoLASPis, A. Smith, MS. 



Head pyramidal, depressed ; crown covered with regular, many- 

 sided shields ; side of face shielded ; nostrils nearly on the ridges 

 near the front of a single scale with a shield in front of it ; labial 

 shields low ; temple covered with small scales ; eyes lateral ; lower eye- 

 lids scaly ; eyebrow covered with three large shields ; ears large, 

 oblong, erect, open ; tympanum rather sunk ; tongue slender, re- 

 tractile (?) ; the apex deeply notched, acute. Body depressed, with 

 a slight keel on each side of the belly. The back and upper part of 

 the neck covered with whorls of narrow elongated keeled scales, with 

 two series of smooth, oblong, transverse shields, one on each side of 

 the vertebral bones. The belly covered with cross series of square 

 smooth shields, placed in few longitudinal series. The throat and 

 neck covered with small rather convex scales, and with a distinct 

 collar formed of a regular series of large half-ovate scales. The legs 

 rather depressed, covered with granular convex scales ; the front 

 legs with a series of broad smooth shields on the upper front side ; 

 the thighs with two (an upper and lower) series, and the hind legs 

 with an inferior series, of smooth broad shields, like those on the 

 front of the fore legs ; the hind feet slightly fringed on the inner 

 side ; toes 5 : 5, elongate, slender, unequal; claws acute. The femoral 

 pores small. Vent with a single half-oblong shield in front. Tail 

 depressed, with a fringe of compressed close scales on each side, the 

 sides covered with rings of small convex scales, and with two series 

 of small broad band-like shields on the upper and lower surface. 



Mr. Cope has pointed out to me that this genus agrees in many 

 particulars with the genus Placosoma of Fitzinger, MS., described 

 by Von Tschudi in an article on the family of Ecpleopoda (Arch, fiir 

 Naturg. 1847, pp. 50 & 58). 



The scaling seems very similar ; but the body of Placosoma is not 

 said to be so depressed and fringed on the sides ; and the small part 

 of the tail that remains on the specimen described is not said to be 

 depressed and fringed on the sides ; and I can hardly believe that 

 Von Tschudi would have overlooked such a peculiar form, and there- 

 fore I believe they are different. 



Von Tschudi describes the scales on the upper surface of the 

 small part of the tail that remains, which is only 3 lines long, as small, 

 like those on the sides ; but in Dr. Smith's genus the upper surface 

 of the tail is covered with two rows of large shields, like the back. 



