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Show REPTILES. 17 PROCTOTRETUS MULTIJUACULATUS. PLATE IX.-FrG. 1. Corpore suhdepresso; capite squamis numerosis parvis tecto'; auribus pm·vis, mmgine lcevi; seriebus qualuor squamarum supralabialium ; squamis temporum irnbricatis; collo granuloso; femorum facie posteriore partim granulosd, partim squarnis imhricatis tecta. Proctotretua multimaculatua, Bibr.l. c. p. 291. Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia. DESCRIPTION.-The body depressed and wide-the head triangular, the muzzle rather acute. Nostrils prominent and nearly round. Scales of the head very small and numerous; those of the temple rhomboidal and imbricated. There are four series of small irregular scales between the labial and sub-orbitar. The sides of the neck are wholly granular; the scales of the body very small; those of the upper parts rhomboidal, flat with very low carina, and obtuse at the apex-beneath they are also small and rhomboidal; the posterior surface of the thighs is granular, but, as in some other species, there is, near the groin, a distinct patch of imbricated scales like those of the inferior surface. The tail is broad to some distance from the origin, and then tapers to the extremity. The scales of the tail are rather small, short and obtuse. The anterior extremity placed against the sides reaches about two-thirds the distance towards the posterior, and the latter reaches forwards to the shoulder. The ground colour of this species is gray, with numerous small black spots, some of which are bordered with white. The under parts are white, and in one specimen in Mr. Darwin's collection there are on the belly numerous distinct small black spots. Ilis description of the colours is as follows :-" Colours above singularly mottled. The small scales are coloured brown, white, yellowish red and blue, all dirty, and the brown forming symmetrical clouds. Beneath white, with regular spots of brown on the belly." DIMENSIONS. Inches. Lines. Length of the head ............ .. .. ....... . 0 of the body . ..... ............ .. . of the tail .. .. ..... ............ .. . 3 Total length .. . 5 G Length of anterior extremity ... 00 ..... 00 0 of posterior extremity 00 00 .. 000 Found at Bahia Blanca on the northern confines of Patagonia. The following remarks of Mr. Darwin o~ the habits of this species are very interesting. "In its depressed form and general appearance it partakes of some of the characters D |