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Show 10 ZOOLOGY OF TilE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. PROCTO'fRETUS :NIGROMACULATUS. PLATE IV.-Fxa. 2. Capite b1·evi, squamis neque imbricatis nee carinatis, tecto; auribus mm·gine anteriore t1·identato ; serie unica squama1·um supralabialiwn; squamis temporum magnis, 1·otundatis, imbricatis; colli ( et prcecipue plicce) eras sis, eleva tis; facie poste1·iore femorum omnino gmnulosa; squamis nonnullis ad latera abdominis gulceque emarginatis ; maculd transvm·se oblong a, nigra, supra regionem scapularem. T1·opidurus (LeiolcvmU8) nigromaculatus, Woigm. Act. Acnd. Ores. Nat. cur. xvii, p. 229. P1·octotretus nigromaculatus, Bibr. l. c. p. 281. Habitat, Coquimbo, Chile. DESCIUPTION.-IIead short, the muzzle rounded, rather obtuse ; scales of the upper part of the head somewhat convex, smooth ; a single line of scales between the labial and orbitar ; ears rather large, the anterior margin having three rather prominent scales, the middle one being the largest. Temporal scales somewhat large, smooth, rounded, and imbricated, those towards the upper part slightly carinated; those of the sides of the neck thick and elevated, those on the fold being rather acutely prominent; scales of the back carinated, the carina terminating in an acute point; a few of the scales at the sides of the abdomen and throat notched; the remainder of the scales of the under parts rhomboidal. The scales about the axilla and around the base of the shoulder are granular and very small, as are those of the posterior surface of the thighs, on which part there are no imbricated scales as in Tr. Fitzingerii. The tail is round, excepting at the base where it is slightly flattened; it is moderately long and slender. The anterior extremity placed against the side does not reach to the thigh ; the posterior similarly placed reaches to the shoulder. The colour of this species is yellowish grey above, with a yellowish longitudinal line on each side the back, and two rows of black spots each margined with yellow behind. There is a large and distinct oblong black mark on the region of the scapula, from which circumstance the species takes its name. On the posterior surface of the thighs, towards the upper part, are three or four black dots placed in a line. The under surface is yellowish white with dark grey dots and lines under the chin and throat. DIMENSIONS. Length of the head ............... . of the body ••. , •• , •••••.• of the tail ••..•• , ••••••• , • Inches. Lines. 0 1 2 5 5 8 Total length. . . • 4 Length of anterior extremity, •••• ,,, 0 8 of posterior extremity • • • • . • 2 . This species was first described by W eigmann, and subsequently by M. B1br~n, from s~ecimens obtained by Gaudichaud from Coquimbo, at which place the smgle speClmen brought home by Mr. Darwin was also obtained. |