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Show 848 APPENDIX C.- RKPTILBS. ELGARIA SOINCICAUDA, Baird and Girard. VL. IV. Fio. 1- 8, ' . ; Bjra. Tropidolepxg scincieaudtu.- SkWt: Amer. Jour, of So, VII. 1849,202, fig! 1- 8. fiipsc. CHAR.- Dusky green above; Ught ash] colour, below. Eleven transverse '• black bands en the back, interrupted on the dorsal line; white dotted posteriorly, six'or more on the tail. Thirteen to- fourteen rows' 6f scales, well marinated. - *. • The individual of this species which we have had figured, although Hot quite full- grown, exhibits, nevertheless, all the essential characters for its identifieation and specific distinction. A much younger N specimen* was figured by Mr. Skilton, in the seventh Volume of the Second series of the American Journalof Sciences and Arts, where it is given as a species of Tropidolepis. The. scales, indeed, are carinsted, but this is not a character peculiar to the genus Tropir dolepis. A closer examination soon reveals the characteristic features pf the « gerrhonoti, of which the genus Elgaria is tu mere subdivision. The - conical and tapering tail, which is'longer than the body and head together, forms the prominent distinctive mark of the genus in Which we place the present ppecies. The longitudinal area of minute scales, which extends from behind the ears to the insertion. of the hind legs, belpng to gerrhonoti generally, and distinguishes them fronj Tropidolepi* or ficztoporu*. In elgaria arid gerrhonoti, in general, there are neither femoral nor anal pores, wtiile their existence in Scelepor& s will* enable any one to distinguish Between them. The* hind leg* of JS. - tcincicauda are slightly longer and stouter than the anterior, not taking the toes into consideration, as those of tbe hind feet are generally much' the longest. ^ The head is fiat* tened* and has the shape of an acute triangle, the summit of which would be rounded. The snout therefore is rather elongated, with the end conical. The plates which cover its upper surface are smooth, and faithfully represented in fig. 8. Tbe seales of - the back constitute1 twelve or thirteen rows, each of which is provided with a medial carina, or ridge, extending over the tail. ' The scales oC the belly and lower surface of the tail are smooth; on- the abdomen they, form twelve ro^ s, the middle one being composed of larger scales. Fig.- 2 exhibits the differences of the scales under the head, throat, belly, and tail. The scales form transverse as well* as longitudinal rows, not only on the tail, as is often the case, but likewise on the body itself• Tho. se on the throat and |