74 TROPIDOLEPIS UNDULATUS. 



Tropidolepis undulatus, Cuvier, Reg. An., torn. ii. p. 38. 



Tropidolepis undulatus, Gray, in Griff. An. King., vol. ix. p. 43. 



Agama undulata, Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res., p. 140. 



Tropidolepis undulatus, Dumeril et Bibron, Hist. Nat. des Rept., torn. iv. p. 29S. 



Description. The head is short, sub-triangular, rounded in front, elevated above 

 and covered with rough imbricated and polygonal scales. The snout is obtuse; 

 the rostral plate pentagonal and elongated, with several small plates between it 

 and the nasal and frontal; the nasal plates are single on each side, nearly semi- 

 circular, and are suiTOunded by five or six small plates. The nostrils are lateral, 

 but open upwards and backwards, and are very near the snout, on the inner 

 margin of the superciliary ridge. There are about ten frontal plates, the central 

 longest; of the two vertical plates, the anterior is the larger, pentagonal and 

 bordered with small plates; the occipital plate is broad, rounded behind, angular 

 in front, and surroimded by six smaller scales, arranged in two rows. There are 

 five superior orbital plates, most extensive in the transverse direction; these have 

 an inner margin of small scales, and an outer border, consisting of three rows of 

 small scales, forming the margin of the superciliary ridge: the eyelids themselves 

 are covered with minute scales. The margin of the upper jaw is covered with 

 six or seven narrow, oblong, quadrilateral plates, neai'ly all of the same size; 

 above these are two or three rows of small scales. 



The eyes are small and black, and appear sunken, from the projection of the 

 superciliary ridge. The external meatus of the ear is large and oval, most 

 extensive in the vertical direction; and in front appears serrated, from the pro- 

 jection of the points of three or four scales. The neck is contracted and short, 

 and has on each side in front of the anterior extremities a deep oblong depres- 

 sion, covered with a fold of skin. 



The body is elongated, though full, large, rounded, and covered above with 

 small hexagonal, strongly carinated scales; each carina terminating posteriorly in 

 a sharp, elongated point. These carina form sharp ridges, which are directed 



