BRACHYMELES 259 



supraoculars and interparietal; latter with a prominent ''eye- 

 spot," longer than broad, inclosed by parietals, larger than 

 frontoparietals; latter separated, touching two supraoculars; 

 a pair of nuchals present; parietals more than three times as 

 long as wide ; five supraoculars, first largest, second widest, last 

 three touching parietal; nostril pierced between large supra- 

 nasal and first labial; if a nasal scale is present it is indistin- 

 guishable ; two f renals, first nearly twice as large as second ; one 

 large preocular ; only two anterior superciliaries distinguishable ; 

 six upper labials, first very large, third and fourth below eye; 

 a large scale partially inserted between fourth and fifth labials ; 

 mental large, extending back to near vertical of suture between 

 first and second upper labials; four lower labials; postmental 

 smaller than mental, touching one labial; three pairs of chin 

 shields, none in contact, second pair broadest, first two pairs 

 separated by a single scale, third pair by three scales ; temporals 

 slightly enlarged, two touching parietal; one pair of nuchals 

 bordering parietal; twenty-two scale rows around body, all 

 smooth; preanals slightly enlarged; no legs; a slight depression 

 on either side of anus with two or three elongate scales; no 

 auricular opening; scales on anterior part of snout thickened. 



Color in life. — Above light brown, each scale with a darker 

 brown spot, making broken, longitudinal, dotted lines ; belly and 

 tail same, slightly lighter. 



Measurements of Brachymeles vermis Taylor. 



mm. 



Total length 144 



Snout to vent 86 



Tail 58 



Width of head 4 



Width of body 5 



Variation. — Specimens were obtained in four localities: Bi- 

 tinan, 3 specimens; Lapac, 4; Bubuan (southern island), 3; and 

 Papahag, 4. All show variation. The Bitinan specimens have 

 twenty-four scale rows ; two have the nuchal much elongate, and 

 only one temporal touching the parietal. The Lapac specimens 

 have twenty-six scale rows ; one specimen has the parietal broken 

 on one side. Of the Bubuan specimens, the type and two cotypes 

 have only twenty-two scale rows. All of the Papahag specimens 

 have the parietal broken in two parts. The first pair is small, 

 about the size of the prefrontals; the second posterior pair 

 elongate, forming the normal postinterparietal suture; they 



