TROPIDOPHORUS 237 



nasal divided, each part nearly twice as long as wide ; prefrontals 

 large, separated by a small azygos interfrontal scale which 

 forms a narrow suture with frontal; frontal twice as long as 

 wide, but little wider in front than behind, longer than its dis- 

 tance from snout; four supraoculars, anterior narrow and long, 

 first two in contact with frontal; frontoparietal divided, each 

 part smaller than interparietal, which is broken behind; parie- 

 tals separated, as broad as long, bordered behind by a pair of 

 nuchal scales, which are widely separated by several small scales ; 

 nasal at least partially divided ; two large irregular f renals, the 

 posterior in contact with anterior superciliary; two preoculars, 

 lower large, and two smaller, keeled scales above fourth labial; 

 eight superciliaries, first two 

 large, strongly keeled ; these keels, 

 together with the keels on pre- 

 frontals and frontoparietals, form 

 a rather distinct canthus rostra- 

 lis; three small scales below 

 anterior superciliaries ; tempo- pig. 43. Tropidophoms grayi Giinther ; 



ralS moderate, the largest border- ^^*^^ Boulenger: a, head, lateral view; 



b, anal region. 



ing parietal, none as large as 



scales on neck or body ; eight upper labials, fifth largest, directly 

 below eye ; five lower labials ; mental small, followed by a large 

 single postmental; latter followed by two pairs of chin shields, 

 first pair in contact, second pair (of which the scale on left side 

 is fused with the preceding scale) separated by a few minute 

 scales ; a third pair, largest, rather widely separated ; tympanum 

 superficial, about as large as eye opening; twenty-six rows of 

 scales about middle of body, the lateral scales forming diagonal 

 series; on back, six rows of much-enlarged scales with heavy 

 spiny keels; a median row beginning behind arms continues 

 some distance on base of tail, the scales of which are smaller 

 than the other dorsal scales ; scales on hind legs very much more 

 strongly keeled than those on forelegs; lateral scales and scales 

 on neck and throat keeled, the six abdominal rows smooth ; scales 

 on underside of tail small, smooth, slightly striate; scales on 

 upper side of tail with very spiny keels ; legs strong ; adpressed 

 hind leg reaches to near elbow of adpressed foreleg; digits and 

 palms with unicarinate lamellae below, about sixteen under fourth 

 toe ; three enlarged preanals ; tail compressed, with lateral longi- 

 tudinal depressions. 



Color in life. — Brown above with indications of lighter and 

 darker transverse bands, most distinct on tail; throat brown; 

 belly yellowish white; tail rather indistinctly barred below. 



