62 [ APRIL, 
The Committee on Dr. Hallowell’s paper describing new species 
of Reptiles, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 
Description of new species of Reptilia from Western Africa. 
By Epwarp Hattowe tt, M. D. 
PHRACTOGONUS,* Hallowell. 
Subgeneric Characters.—Head conical, presenting two large plates upon its 
upper surface. Nostrils below the rostral. A row of longitudinal shields upon 
the chest. Body and tail annulated; lateral pores near the anus. 
Puractoconus galeatus. 
Specific Characters.—Five teeth in the lower jaw on each side; four maxillary 
on each side of the upper jaw, and two intermaxillary teeth; two large plates upon 
the head; lateral pores near the anus; pectoral shields four in number, long 
and narrow; two hundred and fourteen rings upon the body, eighteen upon the 
tail. 
Description.—The head is smal] and somewhat triangular, rounded in front. 
It presents upon its upper surface two large plates, one of which forms the ros- 
tral. The posterior of these is much the larger, and is more extended 
transversely than in its antero-posterior diameter. It presents three 
distinct margins anteriorly, its posterior margin being somewhat 
rounded; its superior surface is convex. ‘The rostral is rounded an- 
teriorly, depressed above; its anterior margin presents an acute edge. 
The snout extends nearly a line beyond the mouth. In an angle formed by the 
plates just described, on each side of the head, is one which is narrow and 
oblong; and immediately behind it another very small and quadrilateral ; behind 
this at the angle of the mouth is a triangular plate, its base presenting back- 
ward; between them at the posterior part of the head are four narrow and 
more or less oblong and two smaller ones. The nostrils are 
quite small, V shaped, a line apart, and are situated upon the under 
part of the snout, in a narrow plate immediately behind the 
rostral. The eyes are not visible. Five labial plates margin the 
upper jaw on each side. There are three upon the margin of the lower 
jaw, the posterior of which is very large and quadrilateral. The mental 
plate is also large, with a rounded posterior margin. The pectoral shields 
are four in. number, the two middle ones by their junction forming a tri- 
angle superiorly. They are each about three lines and three-fourths in length, 
and a line in breadth. ‘Thetwo lateral shields, which are pentagonal, have their 
bases precisely in a line with those of the intermediate plates. Im- 
mediately above the two middle pectoral are two small quadrilateral 
ones about a line in breadth; their external and inferior margin is 
in contact with the superior and internal margin of the long and 
narrow external pectoral shields. ‘There are nine semicircular 
rings upon the upper part of the body terminating at the base of the 
pectoral plates. There are 214 rings upon the body, and 18 upon the tail. 
Body slender, cylindrical, fifteen lines in circumference at its middle, of an 
obscure white color: (the specimen has been preserved in alcohol). The back 
of the animal is covered with numerous small quadrangular scuta, looking 
aa =, like mosaic: they are wider apart upon the abdomen, which has a 
eQuliny smooth appearance. No longitudinal sulciare observed upon the body. 
— There are two lateral pores quite distinct, each in a separate scale 
on the left side of the row of preenal scales, and one near the centre of a scale 
on the right of the same row. The scales in front of the anus are six in number, 
the two middle ones oblong and quadrilateral, the lateral ones irregular in shape. 
Dimensions.—Length of head 44 lines, of neck and body 13 inches (Fr.) 10 
lines, of tail 154 lines. 
Geographical distributton.—Liberia, West Coast of Africa. 
*doaxtos munitus, pevos angulus. 
