STERNOTHjERUSODORATUS. 31 



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 very pointed; the nostrils 

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

 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 ones 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 with brown, and at 

 times with a few radiating fines of lighter brown. 



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

 bordered with dusky. 



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

 yeUow; 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. 



