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Show 348 APPENDIX C.- REPTILES. ELGARIA SCINCICAUDA, Baird and Girard. PL. IV. Fio. 1- 8. Syn. TropidoUpis scincicaudu*.- Sk\\ t. Amer. Jour, of Sc. VII. 1849,202, fig. 1- 8. SPEC. CHAR.- Dusky green above; light ash colour below. Eleven transverse black bands on the back, interrupted on the dorsal line; white dotted posteriorly, six or more on the tail. Thirteen to fourteen rows of scales, well carinated. The individual of this species which we have had figured, although not quite full- grown, exhibits, nevertheless, all the essential characters for its identification and specific distinction. A much younger specimen was figured by Mr. Skilton, in the seventh volume of the second series of the American Journal of Sciences and Arts, where it is given as a species of Tropidolepis. The scales, indeed, are carinated, but this is not a character peculiar to the genus Tropi-dolepis. A closer examination soon reveals the characteristic features of the gerrhonoti, of which the genus Elgaria is a 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 species. The longitudinal area of minute scales, which extends from behind the ears to the insertion of the hind legs, belong to gerrhonoti generally, and distinguishes them from TropidoUpis or Sceloporus. In elgaria and gerrhonoti, in general, there are neither femoral nor anal pores, while their existence in SceUporus will enable any one to distinguish between them. The hind legs of E. scincicauda are slightly longer and stouter than the anterior, not taking* the toes into consideration, as those of the hind feet are generally much the longest. The head is flattened, 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. 3. The scales of the back constitute twelve or thirteen rows, each of which is provided with a medial carina, or ridge, extending over the tail. The scales of the belly and lower surface of the tail are smooth; on the abdomen they form twelve rows, 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. ? hose on the throat and |