OLIGOSOMA ZELANDICUM. 247 



hind postorbitals, whilst laterally, they are bordered by the upper 

 temporal shield, and posteriorly by the scales of the neck, the two 

 adjoining ones of which being somewhat larger, simulating a pair of 

 postoccipitals. The rostral is broad, and convex upon the periphery 

 of the muzzle ; its upper margin is rounded, and extends somewhat 

 to the upper surfiice of the snout. The postnasal is deeper than long, 

 slightly inclining forwards. The loral is larger and longer than deep, 

 else subquadrangular. There are two small anteorbitals, subpyri- 

 form ; the lower one somewhat larger than the upper ; both pointing 

 towards the orbit. A small suborbital may be seen upon the cora^ 

 missure between the fourth and fifth labials, and two very small supra- 

 orbitals at the anterior upper edge of the orbit, contiguous above and 

 below to the anteorbitals. From the commissure between the fifth 

 and sixth labials, to the posterior supraciliary, may be observed a 

 curved chain of six small plates, constituting the infero-posterior rim 

 of the orbit. As already alluded to, there are two small plates placed 

 between the upper temporal shield and the latero-occipital, as a double 

 series of postorbitals. The supraciliary chain is composed of seven 

 subequal plates, whilst the supraoculars number but four, the second 

 of which being the largest. The temporal shields, three in number, 

 are: an upper, elongated one, largest, and two lower ones, subrhomboid, 

 subequal, resting on the labial plates. The auricular aperture is of 

 moderate development, provided anteriorly with a series of small, erect 

 scales, seated within the rim. The upper labials number seven on 

 either side; the fifth, constituting the inferior rim of the orbit, is longer 

 than deep, and quadrangular ; the four anterior being subequal and 

 smaller ; the first, somewhat more elongated and narrower, sending an 

 angle to the postnasal; the sixth and seventh are subrhomboid, and 

 the largest of the series. The symphyseal is broader, though not quite 

 so deep as the rostral. The lower labials are seven on either side : 

 the first is the smallest, and subtriangular ; the second, third, and 

 fourth are longer than deep ; the rest being nearly as deep as long, 

 and subequal. Three pairs of mental shields and an odd one are ob- 

 served; the latter largest, transversely broad ; the anterior pair con- 

 tiguous ; the remaining two pairs diverging and smaller. 



The scales surrounding the body are disposed upon thirty longitu* 

 dinal series, six of which belonging to the dorsal region, eight to each 

 side, and eight to the abdominal region ; they are subequal on each 

 region ; the two middle dorsal series alone being somewhat larger than 



