9. BASILISCUS. 107 
Corytheolus, Kaup, Isis, 1828, p. 1147; Wiegm. 1. c. pp. 15, 89; 
Fitzing. l.c.3 Gray, Cat. p. 199, and Ann, § Mag. N. H. (2) x. 
p. 439, 
Qidicoryphus, Wag. 1. e. 
igs rs aaa Gray, Cat. p. 198, and Ann. § Mag. N. H. (2) x. 
439. 
Ptenosaura, Gray, Ann. & Mag. N. H. (2) x. p. 488. 
Lophosaura, Gray, l. ¢. 
Cristasaura, Gray, 1. ¢. 
Craneosaura, Gray, in Richards, Zool, Herald, p. 148. 
Paraloma, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1862, p. 181, 
Tympanum distinct. Head, in the adult male, produced pos- 
teriorly into a large cartilaginous lobe. Body compressed, covered 
with imbricate small scales; male with a dorsal crest. No gular 
pouch ; a transverse gular fold. Toes bordered on the outer side by 
a much developed dermal lobe. No femoral pores. Tail long, 
strongly compressed, crested in the male. Lateral teeth tricuspid ; 
pterygoid teeth. Clavicle loop-shaped proximally. No sternal 
fontanelle. No abdominal ribs. 
Tropical America. 
All species agree in the following characters :—Head largest in 
the male, with swollen cheeks and a large crest on the back of the 
head ; this crest hardly developed in the females and not at all in 
the young. Snout pointed; eye-opening and tympanum large ; 
upper head-scales small, irregular, keeled; labials large; a row of 
large chin-shields on each side; gular scales smooth. Dorsal scales 
smaller than ventrals, imbricate, more or less distinctly keeled. 
Limbs long, covered above with keeled scales larger than the 
ventrals ; the adpressed hind limb reaches the tip of the snout, or a 
little beyond. Caudal scales keeled, much enlarged inferiorly. 
Synopsis of the Species. 
I. Males with very high, rayed, dorsal and caudal crests; ventral 
scales perfectly smooth. 
Head-crest undivided, rising from an imagi- 
nary line connecting the upper borders of 
the ear-openings.................05- 1. americanus, p. 108. 
Head-crest bisected, rising on a line with 
the posterior borders of the orbits...... 2. plumifrons, p. 108. 
II. Males with a low, not rayed, caudal crest. 
Dorsal crest rayed; head-crest rising from 
the occiput; ventral scales keeled* .... 3. vittatus, p. 109. 
Dorsal crest not rayed ; head-crest rising on 
a line with the posterior borders of the 
orbits ; ventral scales smooth.......... 4. galeritus, p. 110. 
* The keel sometimes very indistinct in adult males. 
