122 SCINCUS GlUINaUELINEATUS. 



internal angles truncate, which gives them a slight pentagonal appearance; behind 

 these are several large scales. There are four large irregularly quadrilateral 

 superior orbital plates and three posterior orbital, the lower one larger, besides 

 some small plates interposed between them and the eyehds, which are also 

 covered with minute scales; there are four anterior orbital plates, one of which is 

 large, and the superior makes a part of the superciliary ridge; the inferior wall of 

 the orbit is sustained by the sixth and seventh superior labial plates. The frontal 

 are pentagonal, a little rounded, and broadest transversely; the centro-frontal is 

 broad and hexagonal, and the anterior frontal are small, round and oblong. The 

 rostral plate is triangular, with its apex upwards, and its basis rounded and 

 directed downwards. The nasal plates are single on each side, small, and nearly 

 circular in shape. There are three loral plates between the nasal and orbital — the 

 tAvo posterior are large and irregularly quadrilateral, the anterior is small and 

 triangular. The margin of the upper jaw is covered with eight quadrilateral labial 

 plates, the posterior of which is largest above, and behind these are temporal 

 scales. The two posterior labial plates are by no means as much developed as in 

 the last animal. The nostrils are near the snout, lateral, but open upwards and 

 outwards. The eyes are small, the pupil dark and the iris grey. The opening of 

 the external ear is large and oval, longest vertically. 



The body is elongated, cylindrical, and covered with sub-rhomboidal scales, so 

 rounded and imbricated as to appear semicircular; these scales are arranged in 

 longitudinal and oblique rows. The throat and abdomen are covered with 

 rhomboidal scales, imbricated and rounded posteriorly like those of the back. 

 The vent is transverse, with two large and two small scales in front, and small 

 scales behind. 



The anterior extremities are short and covered with scales, similar to those on 

 the back, and terminate in five distinct slender figures, covered with scales, and 

 each furnished with a small, delicate, curved nail. The posterior extremities are 

 large, and covered with scales like the anterior, and terminate in five long, slender 

 toes, each with a short and curved nail. 



