Tachydromiis. 139 



is usually narrower beneatli than above. Temporal scales small, more 

 or less distinctly keeled; 1, 2 or 3 enlarged upper temporals, the first 

 not in contact with the fourth supraocular ; tympanic shield present, 

 narrow and elongate. 



Mental broader than long ; 3 pairs of chin-shields,* the first or 

 first and second meeting in the middle ; 20 to 30 gular scales between 

 the symphysis of the chin-shields and the median collar-plate, 

 anterior granular and smooth, posterior enlarged, imbricate, pointed 

 and keeled, and merging gradually into the collar, which is composed 

 of 8 to 12 pointed, keeled plates. No gular fold. 



Dorsal plates obtusely pointed or rounded behind, in 4 longitudinal 

 series, with 1 or 2 series of smaller plates on the median line, and 

 rarely t with an additional series of small plates between the two outer 

 series, 5 to 8 altogether in the middle of the body ; often 6, 7 or 8 in 

 front and 4 or 5 behind ; 2 to 4 series of keeled scales near the ventral 

 plates, separated from the dorsals by a granular area. Ventral plates 

 in 8 longitudinal and 24 to 30 (usually 26 to 28) transverse series, 

 obtusely pointed, more or less strongly keeled, and shortly mucronate. 



34 to 48 plates and scales round the middle of the body (usually 



35 to 40). Preanal plate moderately large or rather small, smooth, 

 rarely feebly bicarinate or longitudinally bisected,^ often not broader 

 than long, with smaller, usually keeled plates in front and on the 

 sides. 



Upper surface of limbs with rhombic keeled scales and granules. 

 A single femoral pore on each side. Subdigital lamellse partly single 

 and partly divided, mostly divided, 23 to 29 under the fourth toe. 



Caudal scales strongly keeled and shortly mucronate, the keels 

 forming four very strong ridges on the upper surface of the basal 

 part ; the whorls nearly equal in length, the fourth or fifth containing 

 14 to 18 scales. 



Olive, brown, or coppery red on the back, olive, green, or blue on 

 the sides, usually with a light greenish, often black-edged dorsolateral 

 streak, starting from the superciliary edge ; a more or less distinct 

 dark canthal streak and a dark band on the temple and side of neck. 



Chusan, and in a young from Chi Kiang opposite Chusan ; 5 on both sides in a 

 male from Kuatun and in a. female from Ningpo ; on one side in two males 

 from Kin Kiang and in a female from Shanghai. 



* 3 on one side and 4 on the other in two specimens from Kin Kiang and 

 in another from Kuatun. A similar example of asymmetry has been observed 

 by Werner. 



t Male and female from Kuatun, female from Shanghai. 



J Female from Kiu Kiang. 



