576 9. SCINCIDJE 



sutures with anterior nasal, first, second and sometimes third 

 labials, loreal, prefrontal, and frontonasal plates. Loreal 

 in cpntact with third and fourth and rarely second labials, 

 first subocular, preocular, first superciliary, usually first 

 supraocular, prefrontal, and posterior nasal, plates. Three 

 supraoculars; first in contact with superciliary, prefrontal 

 frontal and second supraocular plates, and sometimes with 

 loreal 5 second touching frontal; third usually forming su- 

 tures with the frontal and frontoparietal but separated from 

 parietal and part or sometimes all of the frontoparietal by a 

 series of granules. Frontoparietal more than half as large as 

 frontal. One or two rows of small occipital plates. Sub- 

 labials separated from the infralabials by granules except 

 anteriorly. Five or six superior and six or seven inferior 

 labials to below middle of eye. Anterior gulars quite large, 

 and abruptly separated from the smaller posterior granules. 

 Scales on collar large, not largest on its edge. Ventral plates 

 in eight longitudinal and about 30 transverse rows. Back 

 and sides covered with small, smooth, equal-sized granules. 

 Tail somewhat flattened at base, covered with whorls of 

 diagonally keeled scales. Lower caudals smooth. Ear- 

 opening large, without denticulation. Seventeen to 20 

 femoral pores on each thigh. 



The plates on the head are pale olive. There are no 

 longitudinal lines on the back of the body, the entire dorsal 

 region being ashy or brownish or reddish gray. The sides 

 of the body in adults are brick-red, rarely bordered above 

 and below with faint traces of pale longitudinal lines. The 

 young lack the lateral red coloring, this region being brown- 

 ish or gray like the back. Light lines usually are present on 

 the sides of the head and neck, running from the nostril 

 through the eye and above the ear, and backward from the 

 superciliaries. The upper surfaces of the limbs and tail are 

 light brown or bluish gray. In the young the distal portion of 





