xn.D. 6 Taylor: Brachymeles -271 



fourth entering orbit; seven lower labials, mental little wider 

 than deep, followed by an undivided postmental much wider than 

 deep; first pair of chin shields in contact or not (19 specimens 

 touch, 8 do not) ; second pair of chin shields broadest, separated 

 by a single scale; temporals not or but slightly enlarged; pre- 

 anals somewhat enlarged; foreleg short, with four unicarinate 

 lamellae under the longest finger ; hind leg with third and fourth 

 toes equal, eight lamellae under each; a short 

 depressed area along the body behind limbs; 

 distance from eye to end of snout about equal 

 to distance from eye to auricular opening; dis- 

 tance from snout to foreleg contained in distance 

 from axilla to groin 2.1 to 2.6 times (average, 

 2.46) ; length of hind leg contained in axilla p^^ g. Brachvme- 

 to groin distance 3 to 4.3 times (average, 3.6). les gracilis fis- 

 The front leg fails to reach the ear by a consid- ^''g.'"" '^'" '''"''^'' 

 arable distance. 



Colo7' in life. — The 10 or 12 upper rows of scales dark yellow- 

 ish brown with darker spots, usually on the posterior part of 

 each scale, forming, sometimes, rather distinct longitudinal lines ; 

 below usually dirty yellowish brown, each scale on ventral side of 

 tail with a brownish spot ; head blackish brown ; sometimes scales 

 on sides and belly have small dark spots. Scales smooth, in 24 

 to 28 rows. 



Measurements of Brachymeles gracilis Fischer'. 



mm. 



Length 196 



Tail 101 



Axilla to groin 60 



Snout to foreleg , 26 



Foreleg " 9 



Hind leg ' 15 



Variation. — The young usually have narrow white stripes from 

 behind the eyes to some distance on the tail, separated by six 

 rows of scales. These frequently persist in half-grown speci- 

 mens. One specimen from Canlaon Volcano, Negros, shows very 

 marked variation . from other specimens from the same locality. 

 It has 30 rows of scales, the legs are better developed ; the ear 

 opening much larger and nearer the foreleg than the end of the 

 snout; there is a broad white band on either side, the parietals 

 are in contact; the fourth and fifth supralabials enter the orbit; 

 the distance from snout to foreleg is contained twice in axilla to 

 groin distance; the hind leg in the same distance, 2.7 times. 

 It is probable that this specimen represents a distinct subspecies. 



