EMOA CYANUEA. 271 



also the postoccipitals. There are but seven upper labials : the fifth 

 being the largest, and situated under the eye, forming the inferior rim 

 of the orbit; the four anterior are subquadrangular; the two posterior, 

 subrhomboid, deeper than long. The temporal shields are well deve- 

 loped. The auricular aperture is moderate, subelliptical, provided 

 anteriorly with suiall scales, which give to that margin a denticu- 

 lated appearance. The second pair of mental shields are the largest. 



The color above is either of a blackish, chestnut-brown, or deep 

 greenish-coppery hue, with three longitudinal golden lines or streaks : 

 one beginning at the apex of the snout, follows the middle line of the 

 head, neck, and back to the base of the tail j two lateral ones originate 

 upon the snout, in contact with the middle streak, pass, one on each 

 side, over the upper edge of the orbit, hence along the sides of the 

 body to the origin of the tail. Sometimes, the black and the brown 

 hue of the ground color exist simultaneously, the black lining the 

 golden streak, and the brown intermediate between two black lines. 

 The sides, limbs, and tail are sometimes of a lighter brown or black, 

 uniform; at others, the centre of each scale has a golden reflect, whilst 

 its edge is darker. Beneath, the color is bluish, and the tail, occasion- 

 ally, exhibits an azure-blue tint, which is never observed upon speci- 

 mens preserved in alcohol. There are also instances where the tail 

 is of a greenish-grey above, with a longitudinal darker line, and whitish 

 beneath. 



We have also observed some specimens of a blackish-brown tint 

 above, with dull and diffused streaks, and beneath greyish-white. 



Loc. — The species appears to be very abundant, and widely diffused 

 over the islands of the Pacific Ocean, especially the coral islands. The 

 Expedition has met with it on King's Island, Peacock's Island, Taheiti, 

 Navigator and Feejee Groups, and Tongataboo. It is the commonest 

 Saurian of all these islands, occurring near the coast, as well as in the 

 interior land, in the woods and about the huts of the natives, by which 

 it is most probably carried from island to island, since these animals 

 appear to be absent from the uninhabited islands. The same species 

 was also met with at the Sandwich Islands, and the Philippine 

 Archipelago. 



