Contributions to the Fauna of the Bahamas 



31 



scales. Three loreal rows, the middle one formed only by one or two scales. One 

 keeled superciliary scale. Of the infraorbitals four are long, with two strong keels, 

 iu contact with the superior labials. Eight distinct superior labials. A row of nine 

 large scales, the first one in contact with the mental and first inferior labial. This 

 row is separated by one to three scales from the other inferior labials. Dorsals smaller 

 than ventrals, all strongly keeled. No nucho-dorsal fold. The colour of all these 

 specimens is green, below lighter, somehwat yellowish. The colour can change 

 from green to greyish green and dark brown, sometimes a reddish touch is notice- 

 able. The gular appendage is red, with green dots (on the scales). The colour of 

 the gular appendage never changes. 



Cope ■■■ has described a form of A. porcatus from Crooked Island as a sub- 

 species brunneus (A. principalis hrunneus). To judge from his description and figures 

 it seems to me rather doubtful that this is distinct from the specimens of A. por- 

 catus described above. All the structural characters of his subspecies seem to be 

 found in these specimens, e. g. the number of scales on the fore-head, the ridges 

 on the head, the loreal scales. The colour is according to the description diiïei'ent 

 from the usual one in the Bahama form of A. porcatus, but I do no think any 

 greater importance can be attached to this circumstance, all the more as the colour- 

 ation is described only from preserved specimens. Cope does not mention from 

 which locality the specimens are which he has compared with those from Crooked 

 Island and. which to him have been the type of y>A. principalis» , whether they 

 are from United States or from Cuba. However, he has called attention to some 

 distinct differences in squamation, wliich other authors have not noticed. It would 

 have been of great interest, if Stejneger's and Barbour's notices abont A. porcatus 

 had contained detailed descriptions of the squamation of the head, especially as I 

 have found two specimens in the Bahamas, one at Mastic Point (Andres), the other 

 at Stanniard Creek (Andros), which differ from the very common form described 

 above from Andros and New Providence in this point. I will give below a 

 description of these two specimens, which represent the same form of A. porcatus. 



Description of two specimens from Andros (Fig. 8): Upper head 

 scales keeled. The keels are not so prominent as is usual in the common form, 

 but this difference may be due to the preservation. The upper head ridges feeble, 

 but distinct. They are of another form as in the common form. Before the eyes 

 they diverge forwards a little but then they join at a point on the middle of the 

 snout, including a space with numerous small scales (in several rows one). The 

 two ridges run together, impossible to trace from each other, for a short distance, 

 then they diverge and end at the nostrils, separated by several rows of scales. The 

 anterior parts of the both ridges are rather indistinct. Each ridge includes about 

 ten large scales from its posterior end to the point, where the two ridges join. The 

 anterior part of the ridge consist of several smaU scales. Between the eyes the two 



^ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1894, pag. 432. 



