A M P H I B L U E U S M U R I C A T U S. 415 



familiar with the reptiles of their country, it will remind them of 

 Sceloporus undulatus, the brown or fence lizard of the farmers and 

 planters. 



Descr. — The head is rather elongated, subtriangular when viewed 

 from above, anteriorly somewhat acute. The cephalic plates, obscurely 

 disposed upon longitudinal series, are a little larger on the fronto-nasal 

 region, being all strongly carinated; they are, generally speaking, elon- 

 gated, lanceolated, some of them being subrhombic, others polygonal, 

 always of a diminutive size; the smallest of all are observed upon the 

 temporal and occipital regions. The occipital plate itself is quite 

 reduced, and hardly perceived in the midst of the surrounding ones. 

 The rostral is very low, transversely very elongated, subangalar. The 

 nostril perforates one single, rather conspicuous plate, situated side- 

 ways, immediately beneath the ridge of the canthus rostralis, a con- 

 tinuation of the supraocular ridge. The plates occupying the sides 

 of the head constitute irregular longitudinal series, five of which may 

 be counted above the supralabial plates, beneath the eye ; they are 

 conspicuously carinated, like the labials themselves, which are some- 

 what larger, except one slightly curved series, occupying the subocu- 

 lar region, from the nasal plate to the angle of the mouth. The lower 

 labials much resemble the upper, being also carinated. The symphy- 

 seal is irregularly pentagonal, all sides nearly equal. Under the head 

 and throat, the scales are small, somewhat larger anteriorly, where 

 they assume a lanceolated shape, than posteriorly, where they become 

 subrhombic ; all are conspicuously carinated. The subgular fold is 

 unique, simple, and transversal beneath, and ascending lateniUy 

 towards the shoulders. The neck is but slightly contracted, covered 

 with very small scales, especially sideways, where, however, may 

 be observed, scattered about, some larger ones, slightly raised above 

 the surfece. On the nape, the scales of the medial series, being the 

 largest, are quite compressed, nearly vertical, constituting a crested 

 ridge, which can be traced all along the medial line of the back to the 

 base of the tail. Similar large scales may be seen on each side of the 

 series just alluded to and lining it, forming one series upon the ante- 

 rior half of the trunk, and two series upon the posterior half, to be 

 continued along the tail. The sides of the body are covered with 

 small, unequal scales, in the midst of which are scattered a few larger 

 ones, all being distinctly carinated. On the abdomen, the scales are 



