REPTILES. 229 



external edge of the metatarsus beliind the small toe. The nails are less developed than upon 

 the anterior extremities, compressed at their base, acerated upon their extremity, and but 

 dightly curved. 



The dorsal and lateral regions of the body and upper surface of the hind legs are covered 

 with very small and irregular scales. The inferior surface of the body is plated all over with 

 quadrangular scutellfe, disposed upon ten longitudinal rows, the outermost of which is but 

 imperfectly developed, upon the middle region of the abdomen. The second row, proceeding 

 from the sides inwardly, is composed of scutellfe, nearly quadrangular, whilst on the three 

 remaining rows the scutellfe are transversally longer, in the shape of an elongated quadrangle. 

 Upon the anterior portion of the chest the series are interrupted and composed of smaller and 

 irregularly-shaped scutellfe. The preanal region exhibits three rather large polygonal scutellas 

 surrounded by small plates, diminishing in size as they recede from the central group. The 

 postanal region is densely covered with small plates or scales. The tail is long, subcylindrical, 

 and tapering to a point. The scales which cover its surface are elongated and narrow, keeled 

 upon their middle line, and disposed in verticiles or circular rows. On the upper part and 

 sides of that organ the scales maintain the same width throughout their length, whilst inferi- 

 orly some of them may be seen slightly tapering posteriorly. The ground-color is greenish, the 

 head, the locomotory members, and the tail, marmorated with black. Two lighter stripes may 

 be seen running along the sides, the uppermost starting from the surciliary ridge, the lower 

 one from behind the eye across the auditive aperture, and parallel towards the posterior extremity 

 of the body. Hence, along the sides of the tail to a considerable distance, the uppermost unin- 

 terruptedly above the bind limbs, the lower one with a break near the origin of the thighs. 

 The area enclosed by these two vittse or stripes is black, provided upon its middle region with 

 a series of greenish subrounded spots. The region of the flanks beneath the lower vitta is 

 either entirely black, with two or three irregular series of greenish spots, or else the green and 

 the black mingle, and assume a meandric aspect. The external three series of abdominal 

 scutellfe are provided with a black spot upon their middle. The dorsal region enclosed between 

 the uppermost vitta presents a medial, light-greenish band, edged with transverse blotches of 

 black, enclosing a quadrangular space of deeper green, occasionally mottled with black. Upon 

 the occiput and neck most of the space is greenish. It is not improbable that the young will 

 be found to possess a more defined dorsal vitta, mayhap, similar altogether to those now to 

 be observed on the sides. The inferior surface of the head, the chest, the middle region of the 

 abdomen, and the preanal regi'on, are uniformly yellowish-green. The inferior surface of the 

 fore-limbs is yellowish, the inferior surface of the hind limbs and tail whitish, obsoletely 

 blotched with blackish. 



Specimens of this species were collected at Chagres, isthmus of Panama, by the late Prof. 

 0. B. Adams, of Amherst College, Massachusetts. 



Plate XXXVIII, fig. 1, represents the profile of Cnemidoplwrus 2)rceskfn,is, size of life. 



fig. 2, is an under view of the same specimen, showing the varied structure 

 of the plates, scales, and scutellas, referred to in the above description ; a 

 is an enlarged view of one from a femoral pore, 

 fig. 3, exhibits the head from above, 

 fig. 4, an enlarged toe. 

 fig. 5, an enlarged finger. 



