EMOA SAMOENSIS. 267 



symphyseal is hemidiscoid, and as large as the rostral. The lower 

 labials are but five or six, narrow, longer than deep ; the first quite 

 small; the rest increasing in size to the fifth and sixth, which is some- 

 times smaller than the preceding ones. The odd mental shield is 

 much larger than the symphyseal ; the next pair is contiguous, and 

 still well developed ; the next two pairs diverge as well as diminish 

 in size. 



The body is subfusiform, rounded upon the sides and back, which 

 are convex, whilst the abdominal region is quite flattened ; it is 

 covered with smooth, though striated scales, disposed upon thirty-two 

 or thirty-four longitudinal series, six of which belonging to the dorsal 

 region, ten to each side, and six or eight to the abdominal region. The 

 two middle dorsal series are the largest; the adjoining two series being 

 nearly equal to the abdominals, whilst the lateral ones are the smallest. 

 The preanal scales are somewhat larger than the adjoining series, 

 unequal: the middle one being the broadest. The tail is elongated and 

 tapering, depressed at the base, subconical posteriorly. Not being 

 entire upon the unique adult specimen before us, we cannot compare 

 its absolute length to that of the body and head combined. A young 

 individual has it very long, very slender, once and a half the length 

 of the body and head together. Its scales, sideways, are subequal ; 

 the upper and lower middle series are much larger, and transversely 

 elongated. 



The limbs are slender and elongated ; the anterior pair, in being 

 brought forwards, extends as far as the nostrils. The fingers are 

 slender, compressed, unequal ; the third and fourth, longest. When 

 the posterior pair is extended forwards, the longest toe reaches the 

 axilla. The toes themselves are long, slender, and unequal ; the 

 fourth being the longest ; the third and fifth, nearly equal. The scales 

 upon the anterior aspect of both pairs of limbs are considerably larger 

 than on their posterior aspect. The palms and soles are covered with 

 flattened tubercles, and the inferior aspect of the fingers and toes, pro- 

 vided with transverse, very narrow, hence numerous, plates. The 

 nails are stoutish, and compressed at the base; acute, and curved upon 

 their extremities. 



The color of the upper region is olivaceous-brown, maculated with 

 black, assuming irregular or else interrupted transverse fasciae, which 

 may be traced all along the tail ; the limbs being variegated with 

 black and greenish-olive, in transverse bands across the digits. A 



