1852.] 63 
Habits.—But little is known of the habits of this animal. They probably re- 
semble those of the Amphisbenide. 
General Remarks.—But three species of Lepidosternon are described by Dume- 
ril and Bibron in their Erpétologie Générale, viz., Lep. microcephalum, L. 
phocena, and L. scutigerum. From the microcephalum, the species upon which 
the genus was founded by Spix, galeatus differs in the form and number of the 
pectoral shields, the number of plates upon the head, and in being a much more 
slender animal. Lepidosternon phocena presents twelve plates upon the head, and 
the pectoral shields are small and lozenge shaped.’ The resemblance between the 
animal just described and the L. scutigerum, the Cephalopeltis Cuvieri of Mullex, 
is more close, but it differs from it in several well marked particulars, viz., the 
position of the nostrils, which in all the species described by Dumeril and Bibron 
are stated to be in the rostral plate. They are distinctly so drawn in the figure of 
the L. microcephalum of Spix, in his work on the serpents of Brazil. In L. galeatus 
the nostrils are situated in a plate immediately below the rostral. It differs also 
in having lateral anal pores, which are not mentioned as existing in either of the 
described species of Lepidosternon, and in the number of rings upon the body 
and tail. ‘These are stated by Dumeril and Bibron to be three hundred and four- 
teen for the body and fourteen or fifteen for the tail. The L. scutigerum is there- 
fore a much longer animal, measuring 18% inches. All the species of Lepidos- 
ternon hitherto described are from South America. 
The reptile most nearly resembling the above described animal is undoubtedly 
the Monaspis capensis of Dr. Andrew Smith, (Illustrations of the Zoology of 
South Africa. Reptilia, pl. 67.) The nostrils in the plate of Dr. Smith are 
placed as in Phractogonus, but no mention is made of his description of lateral 
anal pores. The number of rings upon the body is 206, of the tail7. The 
preanal scale is divided as in L. galeatus into six compartments, and the pectoral 
shields are the same in number but differ in shape. ‘The head, however, has but 
a single plate or shield, and hence the name Monaspis, which cannot with pro- 
priety be applied to an animal with two. I therefore prefer the name Phracto- 
gonus. The greater or less number of plates upon the head may, as Dr. Smith 
observes, be of specific importance only, but the position of the nostrils and the 
presence of lateral anal pores are characters of sufficient value to warrant the 
establishment of a subgenus. 
Hemipactybus angulatus. 
Specific Characters.—U pper part of body covered with tubercles, dis- 
posed in oblique parallel rows converging toward the middle line of 
the back. A large triangular plate under the chin. Tail of same 
length as head and body. Tail subquadrangular at its base, tapering 
gradually towards a point. 
Description.—The head of this animal is of moderate size, flattened above, 
somewhat swollen at the temples. The snout is triangular, depressed above, 
the nostrils which are small and circular being placed nearly a line apart about 
half a line above the opening of the mouth. There isa row of nine or ten plates 
upon each side of the upper jaw; of these the two or three nearest the snout 
appear to be the largest. The same number exists upon each side of the lower 
jaw. The nostril is in a narrow, oblong, quadrilateral plate. The mental plate is 
Jarge and triangular, with two smaller quadrangular plates on each side at the 
apex of the triangle. The meatus auditorius is very distinct, of moderate size, 
oval in shape. ‘The eyes are large and lateral, with rounded pupils. The upper 
half of the orbit is bordered by a single row of conical scales. The chin and 
throat are covered with small granular scales, which are somewhat larger near the 
chin. The scales upon the neck and abdomen are smooth and quadrangular, 
running in obliquerows. The upper part of the body presents numerous tuber- 
cles arranged in oblique rows, converging toward the middle line of the back. 
The interspaces between the tubercles are covered with very numerous black 
points. Upon the head and neck, numerous tubercles, larger and more abundant 
upon the neck, are observed, arranged in an irregular manner. The upper and 
lateral surfaces of the snout are covered with tubercles thickly agglomerated. 
