OCR Text |
Show 336 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE [Nov. 29, Black dots irregularly disposed on the middle of the back; a dark lateral streak, formed of confluent vermicular spots, enclosing light ocelli above the shoulder; upper surface of head without spots; labials not dark-edged; lower parts white. 5. Male*.-Shape of head and head-shields as in specimen No. 1, but nasals forming a short sutui'e behind the rostral, fourth supraocular undivided, and lower border of subocular distinctly shorter than upper. Collar even-edged, composed of 8 plates; 32 scales between the chin-shields and the collar; gular fold very indistinct +. Body much depressed. Dorsal scales roundish-hexagonal, flat, smooth, very faintly keeled on posterior part of back; 61 scales across the middle of the body, 3 or 4 corresponding to a ventral plate, 42 to the length of the head. 'Ventral plates in 6 longitudinal and 25 transverse series. Anal bordered by a semicircle of 8 small shields, the right median of which is twice as large as the left. Hind limb reaching the shoulder. Scales on upper surface of tibia rhomboidal, keeled, and a little larger than the dorsals, 8 transverse series of the former corresponding to 10 of the latter. Femoral pores 18-18. 26 scales under the fourth toe. Caudal scales as in No. 1, but the whorls more distinctly unequal in length, alternately longer and shorter ; 26 scales in the fourth whorl. The specimen is much bleached ; in what remains of the markings it agrees with No. 1. The following measurements are taken from the five specimens, in all of which the tail is either reproduced or partly broken off:- 1. 2 3. 4. 5. mm. mm. mm. mm. mm. From snout to vent ......... 68 60 53 53 52 „ „ fore limb .. . 28 23 18 19 21 Length of head.................. 17 15 11 12 13 Width of head .................. 11 9 7 7' 12 8 Depth of head .................. 6 6 4 r>1 5 Fore limb ......................... 23 20 16 16 19 Hind limb.......................... 40 32 24 24 28 Foot .................................. 20 17 14 14 16 The first and largest specimen, the male of which measurements have been given by Camerano J, having smaller dorsal scales (60 in a transverse series), less spinose caudal scales, and 22-21 femoral pores, clearly represents Bedriaga's var. modesta §, and is identical with the smaller male specimen referred to as * The specimen preserved in the British Museum. f Quite distinct in the other specimens. J The female specimen of which comparative measurements have been given is evidently the one which has passed into Dr. de Bedriaga's private collection. § Bedriaga divided the species into two varieties: modesta and rudis. The name modesta had been previously proposed for a variety of L. muralis by Eimer. |