PSAMMODYNASTES 211 



sharp canthus rostralis; 2 postoculars, the inferior largest; 

 temporals irregular, only a single temporal in contact with 



2 

 postoculars; the formulfe are: right side, , -i- 2; left side, 2 + 2; 



8 upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering eye, seventh 

 and eighth largest; 7 lower labials, three in contact with first 

 pair of chin shields ; 3 pairs of chin shields ; lips slightly puff'ed 

 out ; preocular region concave ; scale rows, 17, all smooth ; 

 ventrals, 170 ; anal single ; subcaudals, 53. 



Color in life. — Dark ash color above with a series of irregular 

 blotches extending to end of body. The blotches are somewhat 

 lighter than the surrounding ground color, and usually involve 

 two or three very dark scales ; tail a much lighter ash color, 

 showing the blotches indistinctly; below grayish, with a heavy 

 powdering of minute brownish spots; neck with various light 

 dots which continue at irregular intervals along body; head 

 markings very indistinct; a brilliant orange spot on each of 

 the six chin shields, and a similar spot on sixth labial. 



Measurements of Psammodynastes pulverulevius (Boie) 



mm. 



Total length 575 



Snout to vent 472 



Tail 103 



Variation.- — The scale variations in this species are numerous ; 

 this is especially true of the lateral head scales. The loreals 

 vary between 1 and 2 ; preoculars, 1 and 2 ; postoculars, between 

 1 and 8. For the most part there are 3 pairs of chin shields, 

 yet in the large series examined many specimens were found 

 with only 2. No considerable series from any particular island 

 or locality has been obtainable. Six specimens recently exam- 

 ined from Balabac Island, just north of Borneo, show the fol- 

 lowing characteristics : Five have 3 postoculars, one has 2 ; 

 four have 1 loreal, two have 2; four have 3 pairs of chin 

 shields, two have 2. These variations are apparently normal. 

 All six specimens vary widely in color and markings. I do 

 not believe it will be possible to separate any subspecific forms 

 on the basis of color or scale variation. 



The ventrals in the Philippine specimens examined range 

 from 151 to 173; the subcaudals, from 53 to 69. Stejneger * 

 gives 146 to 175, and 44 to 66 as the known range of the ven- 

 trals and subcaudals, respectively. 



The coloration, especially the ground color, varies greatly. 

 Certain specimens are grayish brown with large, transverse, 



* Loc. cit. 



