NAIA HAJE. 



as compared with the other plates ; they are irregularly five-sided, two sides 

 referable to the external margin of each, one to the point, one to the base, 

 and the fifth extends the whole length of the inner side. The sides of the 

 head before the eyes are nearly perpendicular, behind the eyes prominent 

 and convex : the nose is rather blunt, and the nasal plate, which is large, has 

 towards the margin of the lip a deep semicircular concavity, the convexity of 

 which is directed upwards ; anteocular scales one, postocular scales generally 

 three ; the last but one of the labial scales of the upper lip very large, and in 

 adult specimens generally reaches as high as the postocular scales, and 

 covers a portion of the sides of the head, the remaining parts of the sides are 

 covered by a few large irregular scales, excepting in young specimens, in 

 which these scales are out of proportion small, as compared with what they 

 are in adults. The scales of the hindhead and the commencement of the neck 

 irregular as regards size, each with four distinct sides, and two other more or 

 less developed, according as the base and apex of each scale are more or less 

 pointed. The scales on the other parts of the neck and body are lengthened, 

 rather narrow, and of a more or less ovate form, and are disposed in lines, 

 which may either be traced as running obliquely across from one side of the 

 abdomen to the other, or as forming angles on the middle of the back, with 

 the point of each angle considerably behind the extremities of these lines, 

 which will be understood best by reference to the appearances exhibited in 

 the plates. Approaching the tail the scales change their character, though 

 they retain the same mode of arrangement ; instead of being ovate they 

 assume a somewhat quadrangular form, diminish in length and increase 

 in width, and the sides constituting the base and apex are oblique. On 

 the tail, again, they exhibit a different figure, one more approaching 

 to that of the scales of the hindhead being more or less six-sided, the two 

 sides constituting the base and apex being more or less developed : the point 

 of the tail is either blunt or accumulated, and in either case is covered with a 

 corneous sheath. The skin of the neck is loose, and too capacious for the 

 parts it has to cover : hence, when not excited, the exuberant portion is 

 disposed in two folds, one along each side, close to the abdominal plates. 

 The skin of the body is moderately loose, but not too large for the parts 

 beneath it, and that of the tail is intimately united to the internal parts, and 

 not to be raised in the least, except the connecting membrane be destroyed. 

 The abdominal plates are moderately wide, and the posterior edge of each is 

 longer than the anterior, and terminates in an angle between two of the 

 scales of the inferior lateral row : the subcaudal scales six-sided, the angle 

 formed by the union of the two external sides received between two of the 



