62 PHRYNOSOMAORBICULARE. 



size towards the angle of the mouth, and being slightly elevated in their centre, 

 give a festooned appearance to the inferior and outer margin of the lower jaw; 

 above these large plates, and below the labial plates, are two or three series of 

 small scales. The whole chin and throat are covered with nearly equal sized, 

 smooth, rhomboidal scales. 



At the posterior border of the occiput is a row of spines, nine in number, 

 extending from the front of one meatus of the ear to the other; the two longest of 

 these spines are placed at the superior and posterior part of the occipital region, 

 and have a very small one between them; three other spines are placed on the 

 sides of the head, and decrease in size from above downwards: these spines are 

 formed like those of the Agama cornuta. The external meatus is large, rather 

 triangular, broader above, narrower below, with a small conical pointed tubercle 

 at its anterior and inferior margin. The neck is short, and contracted behind the 

 head. The chin is covered with small, equal sized, smooth, rhomboidal, im.bricated 

 scales; and the throat with similar scales, but smaller, and offers a transverse fold, 

 which ascends on each side of the neck to cover an oblique depression in front of 

 the anterior extremities. 



The body is short, flattened, ecarinate, arched outwards at the flanks, and covered 

 with large, pointed, trihedral tubercles, interspersed among small rhomboidal 

 carinated scales and smaller tubercles. The vertical line is covered with three or 

 four rows of small scales, and appears depressed, from the absence of the larger 

 tubercles that are found in other parts. On each side of the vertebral line, and 

 disposed in irregular rows, are scattered larger and pointed tubercles. The flanks 

 are bordered with a row of spines, extending from the anterior to the posterior 

 extremity. The thorax and abdomen are covered with rhomboidal, perfectly 

 smooth scales. 



The tail is broad and flattened at its root, but suddenly becomes contracted 

 and terminates in a point, and is covered like the abdomen, but has only a few 

 spines at its basis and along its lateral margins. 



