AMPLOKHINUS MUL TIMACULATU.S .
(Reptilia _;Plate 57)
AMPLORHINUS* MULTIMACULATUS.—S m it h .
R e p t il ia .— P l a t e L V I I .
A. superne pallide viridi-brunneus, macularum nigrarum seriebus quatuor variegatus, infra livido-griseus;
corporis squamis seriebus septemdecim dispositis; scutis abdominalibus 164 ad 170; squamis
subcaudalibus 65 ad 70 ; caudee apice aculeata.
C o l o u r .—The upper surface of the head either a light orange coloured
brown, or a tint intermediate between oil-green and broccoli-brown. Back
and sides oil-green, tinted faintly with light chestnut-brown, the latter most
distinct on the back. Four rows of quadrangular liver-brown spots, two on the
back and one on each side, the spots of the middle or dorsal rows the largest
and most regularly formed. In all young specimens and in some adults, the
back and sides are further variegated with short delicate white lines, distributed
irregularly over the surface, and are, when closely examined, found
to depend on each scale being finely edged on both sides towards its base
with white. On each side, between the dorsal and lateral rows of spots,
there is a more or less distinct light greenish yellow line, not however always
discernible. In some specimens a greater or less number of spots are
observed on the tail, in others it is without spots. Sides and under surface
of head greenish yellow, preocular plate pale cream-yellow. Under parts of
body and tail, livid greyish blue.
F o rm , &c.—Head subquadrangular, the temples rather prominent, the nose
pointed, and the hind-head slightly broader than the neck; body rather
slender, suhcylindrical, the greatest thickness about midway between nose
and anus ; tail long, tapered, and its extremity armed with a slender pointed
horny prickle. The frenal plate is irregularly four-sided, the preocular plate
* Ch. Gen. Body slender and subcylindrical. Head slightly wider than the neck, subquadrangular
and anteriorly subacute. Teeth small; the last tooth of maxillae considerably the largest, inclined
backwards, and grooved from base to apex. Nostrils in the middle of a scale. Eyes small, pupil
circular. Postocular scales two. Frontal plate pointed behind, and slightly contracted about midway
between its extremities. Scales small, narrow, subovate, and disposed in oblique transverse rows. Tail
tapered to a point, the latter consisting of a homy spine.