REPTILES. 
95 
head, widening on the orbits, so as to enclose the eyes, and extended across the cheek (o the ears. 
Forehead rather concave, quadrangular, longer than broad, rounded in front, slightly produced 
into an angle over the eyes, and contracted into a sharp arched crest on the occiput, covered with 
sub-equal flat scales, having a pearly appearance. Sides of the head concave, with an angular 
prominence over the upper front edge of the ears, and a ridge of larger keeled scales, extending on 
the side of the occipital crest, to the back of the forehead. Labial scales, oblong and sub-equal. 
The throat covered with longitudinal lines of larger keeled scales, with a rather larger central series, 
forming an obscure crest. Scales of the body small and thin, with an obscure subspinose tip, larger 
along the dorsal ridge, forming a slight crest, and smaller on the sides; those of the belly, limbs, and 
tail larger, keeled ; the scales of the toes forming three ridges. The inner and outer fore toes short, 
the middle ones longer, nearly equal, the inner hind toes reaching just to the first joint of the second, 
the second toes to the second joint of the third, and the outer to the knuckle-joint. Length of 
head, iO lines; of head and body, 2| in.; of tail, 5j inches; height of occipital crest, 9 lines; lenglh 
of thigh and fore leg, 9 lines; of hind feet, 1 inch. 
Tropidolepis torquatus, t. 30./. 2. Gray in Griffith, Anim. Kingd. 
Scelopliorus torquatus. Wiegmann, Isis, 1828, xxi. 364. 
Olive brown, pale greenish white or blue beneath. Nape with a broad black band, edged above 
and below by an arched orange yellow (in spirits, yellowish white) band ; the front band commencing 
a little behind the ears, and deeply curved, the hinder commencing just above the fore leg, over the 
front of the base of which it extends. Scales large, of the back broad, short, concave, with raised 
edges and a terminal, central, slightly raised and extended keel, which is serrated at the tip. Those 
of the neck rather smaller; of the legs and tail, especially those of the latter, longer and more dis- 
tinctly keeled, and dagger-pointed. The scales of the thighs smaller than those of the fore legs. 
Those of the tail largest, becoming narrower and longer towards the tip. .Scales of the belly 
moderately smooth, entire edged, rather smaller on the neck, and considerably smaller at the throat 
and before the vent ; of the under sides of the limbs smaller and longer, especially on the under 
side of the hind legs and tail. Scales of the head numerous and symmetrical, with a large parietal 
shield, pierced with a hole ; and smaller smooth scales over the eyebrows. Lips with a double 
or treble series of long narrow scales, the binder ones of which are keeled ; those of the under lip 
with a series of white squarish scales below them ; central labial scale unique. Body and head 
depressed ; ears large, fringed by a series of scales in front ; limbs short and strong ; toes unequal ; 
femoral pores large and distinct. 
Length of body and head, 3^ inches ; of tail, 3| inches. 
Inhab. Mexico. In the collection of the British Museum, and that of Mr. Bell. 
This species was first described by Dr. Wiegmann, who formed from it and some other species 
a new genus, under the name of Scelopliorus, not being aware that it belonged to a genus which I had 
before established, under the name ol' Tropidolepis, for a North American species. 
Tropidolepis scalaris. Gray, tab. 30. /. 3. 
Scelopliorus scalaris. Wiegmann, Isis, 1828, 364. 
Olive, with a white streak down each side of the back, and two series of large irregular spots, 
edged behind with a slight pale line ; beneath silvery white ; chin with many bluish green bands ; 
sides varied with bluish green and black. Scales of back keeled, entire; of belly smooth; of tail 
keeled, the upper ones dagger-pointed. 
Inhab. Mexico. 
