CHELONURA TEMMINCKII. 



149 



differed in some other respects; but, as the sternum was dried, such observations 

 cannot be reUed on. 



The head is enormously large, and regularly triangular if seen from above, its 

 basis behind and its apex before; it is covered superiorly and laterally with 

 polygonal plates; the vertical plate is beautifully urceolate, pentagonal, broadest 

 behind, narrow before; the superior orbital plates are elongated, quadrilateral, and 

 project over the eye, as in Crotalus; the frontal is irregularly quadrilateral, 

 smaller before, where it projects over the nares, and broader behind, descending 

 to form a portion of the orbit of the eye; the occipital plate is very large, 

 covering most of the head, is of polygonal form, and joined to many of the plates 

 of the head, in front to the vertical and superior orbital, and in all other places is 

 surrounded by smaller plates; the first of these is placed behind the superior 

 orbital, and is of an irregular oblong form, joining also with the posterior orbital 

 and superior temporal plates; the second is larger, and situated between the 

 occipital and superior temporal; and still behind this are several smaller polygonal 

 plates; the central one is largest; the posterior orbital plate is regularly 

 pentagonal, concave in front and above for the orbit, straight in front and below 

 where it touches the corneous part of the lower jaw; there are four or five 

 temporal plates, of which the two anterior are largest, the upper quadrilateral, 

 and joined to the corneous covering of the upper jaw in front. The snout is 

 pointed, the nares anterior and close together. The eyes are large and very 

 brilliant, the pupil dark grey, the iris golden, with angular dark projections 

 surrounding its outer margin. Each jaw is protected by a firm horny covering. 

 The upper jaw is strong, sharp, and pointed at its extremity, extends beyond the 

 lower, and is furnished with a remarkable hook in front, projecting beyond the 

 lower, and descending at right angles to the frontal plane, behind which the 

 cutting margin is waved or notched, as in some birds of prey. The cutting edge 

 of the under jaw is equally firm, and has an equally well developed hook or tooth 

 in front, which is received in a fossette of the upper jaw. The mouth, though 

 large, is less so in proportion than in the Chclonura serpentina. The neck is 

 short, large, sub-cylindrical, and covered with a tough, abundant, loose, folded, 



