10. VTA 217 



nearer to end of snout than to orbit. Plates on head mod- 

 erately large, smooth and almost flat; interparietal largest. 

 Frontal plate usually not divided transversely. Inner ser- 

 ies of enlarged supraoculars separated from frontal, f ronto- 

 parietal, and parietal plates by one or two rows of granules. 

 Superciliaries long, slightly projecting laterally, strongly im- 

 bricate. Central subocular very long, narrow and strongly 

 keeled. Rostral and six or seven supralabials long and low. 

 Symphyseal plate moderately large, and followed by a 

 series of plates separated from the infralabials, except first 

 pair, by one or two series of sublabial plates. Gular region 

 covered with small smooth subhexagonal granular scales, 

 which become imbricate and increase in size on, and are 

 largest at edge of, strong transverse gular fold. Ear-open- 

 ing large, with anterior denticulation of three to five scales. 

 Skin of sides of neck and body more or less folded. About 

 five to eight rows of imbricate, keeled, nearly equal-sized 

 scales forming a band down the middle of back, and chang- 

 ing abruptly or gradually to smaller keeled scales and then 

 to smooth granules on its sides. Seventeen to 24 of the larg- 

 est dorsals equal length of head to back of interparietal. Two 

 more or less definite longitudinal lateral dermal folds. 

 Rarely a few scales on upper lateral fold enlarged. Largest 

 scales on the tail, larger above than below, and strongly 

 keeled and pointed. Posterior surfaces of thighs and arms 

 covered with small granules similar to those on sides of 

 body. Superior and anterior surfaces of limbs provided with 

 keeled scales. Femoral pores about nine to 1 4 in number on 

 each thigh. Tail less than twice as long as head and body. 

 The general color above ranges from a pale grayish or 

 yellowish brown, through various shades of olive, gray, 

 brown, ard slate to nearly black, but often is lighter on the 

 sides and head. On the back are wide blackish blotches or 

 cross-bars, usually interrupted on the vertebral line and 



