OCR Text |
Show REPTILES. 13 scales of the back are lozenge-shaped, the carina of moderate height but prolonged into an acute point. Amongst those of the sides of the neck and belly arc a few which are notched at the margin.* The scales of the posterior surface of the thigh are wholly granular. The pr~portions of the limbs vary in the two sexes. In the male they are considerably longer than m the female. ln the latter the posterior extremity when placed against the side extends only to the arm, in the former it reaches to the ear. The ground colour of the back is chesnut brown or greenish brown, with a bright metallic green glance in certain lights; there are two light buff longitudinal fascire running the whole length of the body; the under parts are of a bright metallic blue colour. Mr. Darwin states that in one specimen there were emerald spots on the sides, which did not exist in another individual. This may possibly be a -sexual peculiarity. DIMENSIONS OF A MALE SPECIMEN. Length of the head ............... . of the body .••••••••••••• of the tail •••••••• , , ..•••• Total length •••. Length of anterior extremity ••.•...• of posterior extremity , ••••• Inches. Lines. 0 l 9 3 3 8 0 Found by Mr. Darwin at Valparaiso, and at Valdivia; the former is a very dry rocky country, with a scanty yegetation; whereas the latter is nearly level, covered with the thickest forest, and the climate exceedingly humid. PROCTOTRETUS KINGII, N.S. PLATE YI.-Fw. 1, 2. Sqttamis capitis neque imbricatis nee carinatis; supralahialibus 1'n serie unicd; aurium margine anteriore granulosa; interdum unidentata ; squamis, dorsalibus cm·inatis, postice acuminatis,femorumfacie posteriore prcecipue granulosa, sed portione parva, caudam versus, squarnis pm·vis, rotundatis imbicratis tecta. Habitat, Port Desire in Patagonia. DESCRIPTION.-General form robust and full; the head short, thick, and passing into the neck without any distinct contraction ; the muzzle rounded. Scales of the head larger in pr~portio~ than in Pr. Fitzingerii. Ear large, oval, with the anterior margin granular, sometimes. slightly toothed. Scales of the temples of moderate size, imbricated, smooth, so~ewhat rmscd. A single range of oval moderate-sized scales between the labial and the orbital scales on the * This is contrary to the character given by 1\L Bibron, who states that the whole of these are entire. |