THREE NEW SPECIES OF LIZARDS FROM THE PHILIP- 
PINE ISLANDS. 
By LronuarD STEJNEGER, 
Curator, Division of Reptiles and Batrachians, U. S. National Musewmn. 
The smaller species of the genus Sphenomorphus offer some of the 
most unsatisfactory objects for identification among the skinks, not on 
account of any great amount of individual variability, but chiefly be- 
cause of the small size of the specimens, their shiny surface making 
the distinction of scutes and the counting of scales very difficult and 
tedious, the shght, but apparently important differences in propor- 
tions and size of body, legs, and ear-openings, and the great super- 
ficial resemblance of many of the species both as regards shape, colora- 
tion, and arrangement of head-shields. Add to this that even stand- 
ard descriptions of the most recent authors fail to indicate such im- 
portant structural characters as the temporal shields or scales, and it 
will be understood that the study of these forms is not a very easy 
one. 
On the other hand, the large 7ropidophorus ofters no such difhi- 
culties, and the new species described below forms a conspicuous and 
easily identified addition to the Philippine reptile fauna. 
SPHENOMORPHUS ATRIGULARIS, new species. 
DPiagnosis.—No supranasals; fronto-nasal broadly in contact with 
rostral; fronto-parietals distinct; four large supraoculars; no auricu- 
lar lobules; distance between tip of snout and fore leg about once and 
a half in distance between axil and groin; fourth toe scarcely longer 
than third; head and body nearly equalling length of tail; temporal 
region covered by scales scarcely larger than dorsals. 3 
Tabitat—Mindanao, Philippine Islands. 
Type.—Cat. No. 37386, U.S.N.M.; Catagan, Datu Anib’s place, 
base of Malindang Mountains, 1,100 feet altitude, Misamis Province, 
N. W. Mindanao; May 24, 1906; Dr. E. A. Mearns, U. 8S. A., col- 
lector. 
PROCEEDINGS U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, VOL. XX XIV—No. 1606. 
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