xn.D, 6 Taylor: Snakes and Lizards of N eg ros 373 



The color above is dark brown with markings similar to 

 those of S. steerei. Snecimens from Canlaon have canary- 

 yellow bellies, and the males have a large rose pink spot on 

 the neck, which disappears in alcohol. The species is very 

 common.^ 



Dasia smaragdinium Lesson. 



Represented by a single immature specimen. It is grayish 

 olive above with small white spots and a few darker spots mixed 

 with the white spots on the neck. This species does not appear 

 to be rare, as many specimens were seen in the tall forest trees. 



Sphenomorphus arborens sp. nov. Plate I. 



Type. — No. 413, E. H. T. collection. Mount Canlaon, Occiden- 

 tal Negros, P. I., December 20, 1915. E. H. Taylor, collector. 



Adult male. — Head short and blunt, rostral bent backward 

 over snout, forming a curved suture with frontonasal; latter 

 much wider than deep, in contact with first f renal; no supra- 

 nasals; prefrontals very large, broadly in contact; frontal tri- 

 angular, its broadest part anterior to first supra-ocular; in 

 contact with three supra-oculars ; frontoparietals distinct, 

 broadly in contact, elongate, touching three supra-oculars; pa- 

 rietals large, forming a suture behind interparietal, which is 

 narrow and elongate; nasal large, pierced by a rather large 

 nostril; two frenals, the first higher and narrower than the 

 second, which is larger than first; two preocular scales superim- 

 posed, the lower much the larger; two or three rows of scales 

 between labials and orbit; ten superciliaries, the first especially 

 large, in contact with the frontal; five supra-oculars, last very 

 small (can scarcely be considered a supra-ocular) ; lower eyelid 

 covered by two rows of scales, the upper small, the second row 

 elongate, enlarged, eleven or twelve in number; small postocu- 

 lars; five temporals, that bordering the parietal very large; ear 

 large, about half the diameter of eye; six upper labials, fourth 

 and fifth below eye; fifth largest; lower labials four or five, 

 very narrow and elongate; mental moderate, first postmen tal 

 more than twice as deep; four pairs of chin shields, first pair 

 in contact, second pair separated by one scale, third pair by 

 three scales; fourth pair broken in two; 40 to 42 scale rows 



' It is obvious that a more detailed study of these small skinks is needed. 

 I have before me specimens from Palaviran, Mindoro, and Mindanao, which 

 apparently are different from described species. Yet they vary considerably 

 among themselves. A study of these small forms has been begun. 



