STERNOTH^RUS ODORATUS. I35 



nearly quadrilateral, at others they approach a triangular form. The sub-caudal 

 are quadrilateral. Of the supplemental plates, the axillary are very small and 

 triangular; the inguinal are twice as large, and of variable form. 



The head is very large, with the snout elongated and pointed; the nostrils are 

 anterior and near together. The eyes are large, the pupil black, the iris dark 

 hazel, with an inner circle of yellow. The upper jaw is strong and sharp; the 

 lower jaw is equally strong and recurved anteriorly. There are several warts or 

 barbels near the chin, varying in size; the most remarkable are two at the chin, 

 and two near the posterior extremity of the lower jaw. 



The anterior extremities are short and rounded, granulated in front, with two 

 or three large scales near the carpus; there are five fingers, palmate, with each a 

 short nail. The posterior extremities are flattened near the tarsus, and are 

 granulated both before and behind, with a few small scales near the tarsus pos- 

 teriorly; there are five toes, fully palmate, the four internal alone are furnished 

 with nails. The tail is very short, thick at its root, narrow at its extremity, and 

 terminating in a small horny point. The skin of the tail is granulate and covered 

 with small warts, disposed in a row along the upper surface like a ridge. 



Colour. The shell is black or dusky, mixed and clouded Avith brown, and at 

 times with a few radiating hnes of lighter brown. 



"tj* 



The sternum is dirty or clouded yellowish-white, and each plate is sometimes 

 bordered with dusky. 



The head is black above and dusky at the sides, with occasional spots of dirty 

 yellow; a yellowish-white line extends, with certain interruptions, from the snout 

 over the eye along the neck; a second line, of the same colour, runs from below 

 the orbit to the throat. The jaws are horn colour, with waving lines of dusky 

 or dark brown. The skin of the neck above is warty and dusky; the throat is 

 dirty yellow, with many of the larger warts of brighter yellow. 



