OCR Text |
Show APPENDIX C.- r- ftEPTPiBS, 859 is proportionally large, and so is the lower loral plate, as there exists a second loral above the first, much smaller than any of those of the orbital circle. A specimen of H. timus examined by us has shoijn a second similar small loral on one side of the head, while on the other it evidently did not exist, so that it may prove either not to be constant in H. naticu*, or to be likewise found in other species of the same genus. The rostral plate is directed upward, as in S. rirrius, having the same general shape as in the latter. ; The tail has the same proportions with regard to the iody $ s in JET. platyrkino*, that is about the sixth, of the entire length. The . eyes are considerably smaller than in HI platyrhinos, as we have compared specimens of both specie^, having the same length and size of body. The, only specimen of H* naticu* which we hav< Q seen is not a foot long, so that we have had to . CQmpare with it the youtag of J5T. ptdtyrhino$. Now, if our, H. na? icu8 be immature, ft is the young of a species which differs froxn those already known of the genus, as shotfn by tfyevory great difference in. size of the eyes, and those other characters which we have just described. In coloration, our species resembles more that of H. platyrhinos than that of H. sirr\ u*. The ground colour appears to be the same. There are in both species - three rows of blackish- brown" patches, bordered with a- line of light yellow or white; but while these patches are elongated in II. platyrhinoi, they assuipe a more circular ' shape, in H. nasicu*> although there is no' regularity or sym-. metfy about, then*. Two indistinct and much smaller rows exist on the sides. The lower part of abdomen and tail is almost entirely black. The. throat and lower surface of head are unicojof, of the same hue as the ground colour of the body above. On the occiput, immediately behind the occipital plate,, there is a Ian? ceolated patch, and on both sides of this a much greater irregularly oval one. Two brown stripes are seen on the top, of. the head, one over the apteriof half of the eyes, extending vertically to the mouth, and another over the posterior half of the eye, hence obliquely backward, forming over the temples an elongated but much broader patch than in ff, platyrhinos and S. BimvA. This. species was collected in Texas by General Churcjull; a specimen is preserved vat the Smithsonian Institution, 23 * |