OCR Text |
Show 14 ZOOLOGY OF TilE VOYAGE OF TilE BEAGLE. sides of the neck, above and behind the shoulder small, granular, and some of them having a minute pore. Scales of the back of moderate size, larger than in Fitzingcrii, rhomboid, having a rather prominent carina, and terminating in a distinct point. Scales of the under parts smooth and rhomboidal. The posterior surface of the thighs is for the most part granular, bul a small portion ncar the groin is covered with larger imbricated scales; to a much smaller extent, however, than in Fitzingerii, and other species which possess this character. The general colour of the upper part of this species is a rich dark brown, with whitish transverse bands and spots, having a black margin. I have figured in fig. 2, of Plate VI., a remarkable variety in which the bands are alternate black and white, and a broader and a narrower longitudinal fascia of a yellowish-white colour, run the whole length of the body on each side. The under parts are yellowish-white, with dark or almost black spots ; under the throat bluish-gray with white spots. DIMENSIONS. Length of the head •••••••• , , , ••••• of the body ••••••••••••.• of the tail , ••• , , ••.•••• , •• Total length •••• Length of anterior extremity • , ••• , , • of posterior extremity • , •••• Inches. Lines. 0 6 8 3 4 5 1 4 This species much resembles Pr. Fitzingetii in many of its characters, as well as in its size. It may, however, be at once distinguished from it by the character of the scales of the back, which in this species are very distinctly carinated, of a rather elongated form, and pointed at the extremity; whereas in the other they are shorter, smaller, the carina is very slight, almost indistinct, and the posterior extremity is obtuse. The tail in the larger figure of our plate is deformed, having been renewed. The specimen figured at (2,) in the same plate, is so remarkably distinct in the colours and marking, as to lead me to suppose that it may possibly be a different species. PROCTOTRETUS DARWINII. PLATE VII.-Fm. 1, 2. Corpore subdepresso; capite squamis numerosis, parvis, subelevatis, lcevibus non imbricatis ; aut·ium margine antm·iote integt·o ; tempm·ibu,s colloque granulatis; set·ie unica squamarum supralabialium ; facie posten:ore femorum pat·titn granulosa, partim squamis irnbt·icatis tecta. Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia. Mr. Darwin. |