80 NOTICE_OF SOME NEW AND RARE SPECIES OF SCINCIDZ. 2 
and narrow scales; six supra-labial plates, the fourth much larger than the rest, and qua- 
drilateral, head short, trapu; gape of mouth small; tongue slightly notched in front, pa- 
pillous; auditory opening somewhat triangular in shape, with three small scales in front; 
body slender, surrounded with twenty-nine rows of scales; those upon back and sides, 
with from seven to eight carinse, the middle ones wider apart than the others; scales 
upon upper part of tail, 7-8 carinated, those beneath smooth, tail longer than head, neck 
and body, cyclo-tetragonal at base, tapering gradually to a point. Colour in spirits, uni- 
form ash, with traces of four longitudinal narrow dark-coloured lines, extending the whole 
length of the trunk. 
Dimensions.—Length of head 53 lines, greatest breadth, 34. Length of neck and body 
to vent, 1 inch 72 lines; length of tail, 2 inches, 9 lines. 
Habitat—Mexico. One specimen in Mus. Acad., N. S., presented by Mr. W. H.. 
Keating. 
Gen. Remarks.—This is a very singular tropical animal, its physiognomy and general 
appearance are quite peculiar. Its short head, thick neck, ramassé body, and rather 
long tail, give it an air of oddity, not usual among the Scincide. 
EUPREPIS SURINAMENSIS. 
Character—Lower eyelid with a transparent disk; colour olive, above with brown 
spots, arranged sometimes into two longitudinal rows; a brown band on each side; 30 
rows of scales, tricarinated upon back, smooth upon the sides; carinse not very distinct; 
body robust. | 
Description.—Nostrils in a single plate, near its posterior border; two supero-nasals 
contiguous, broader in front; a large and broad inter-nasal, its lateral and inferior margin 
_in contact with the first frenal; two fronto-nasals not contiguous, about half a line apart; 
a frontal more extended in the longitudinal direction, broader in front; two fronto-pa- 
rietals; a short interparietal; two parietals; no occipital; a small naso-frenal; two fre- 
nals, and two freno-orbitar plates, the latter long and quadrilateral; seven superior labials, 
the sixth the largest, very distinctly oblong quadrilateral ; four supraciliary plates ; a trans- 
parent disk to the inferior eyelid; auditory opening simple, without scales; body rather 
long, surrounded with thirty rows of scales, more or less rounded posteriorly ; scales tri- 
carinate upon the back; carine indistinct; seven preanal scales, the two middle the 
largest. Colour olive above, with brown spots, arranged sometimes into two longitudinal 
rows; a brown band on each side,-from one and a half to two lines in breadth, com- 
mencing behind the eye, passing over the ear, and losing itself upon the tail; extremities 
spotted with brown above; under parts silvery white, immaculate. 
