CORDYLUS GIGANTEUS.
upper sub-keeled, and unlike the ones before them, which are quadrangular
and flat. Hind head and temples posteriorly margined with a row of long
striated somewhat triangular and pointed spines which extends from the base
of the lower jaw of one side to the same part on the other ; the four
edging the hinder part of the head superiorly directed backwards and
very slightly outwards, the five edging each temple outwards and very
slightly backwards, and are considerably shorter than the former. The
scales, four, covering the lower jaw very large, the three first quadrangular,
the last somewhat pointed behind. Scales of temples large,
imbricate, striated, triangular, and with the apex pointing backwards. The
scales on the neck and body superiorly, and on the sjdes arranged in regular
transverse rows, the base of each scale being flat, more or less quadrangular,
and with a keel proceeding along its middle; the scales of the sides of
the back, body, and neck terminate, is a strong triangular divergent spine;
those on the sides of the neck longest, rather irregularly placed, and
extend nearly directly outwards: as compared with the sides, the back is
comparatively smooth, the scales being only rugose and faintly carinated.
The scales of the upper and lateral parts of the tail in whorls, very rugged
and hard, and each has a prolonged triangular spine directed outwards and
backwards ; the scales of the under surface long, narrow, five-sided, smooth,
and pointed behind. The scales of the extremities superiorly and anteriorly
flat at base, and each is surmounted by a divergent spine more or less
developed; the spines of the fore legs towards the body prominent
towards the toes, only faint; on the hinder legs the spines generally are
strongly marked. The under and hinder surfaces of fore legs towards body
are covered with small irregular, somewhat granular scales which anteriorly
are edged near the body by a row of three very large tubercular scales
very different from the others described: and besides these there is,
towards the foot, on the opposite side of the under surface of the legs, a
cluster of conical tubercles generally arranged in three or four longitudinal
rows, and having their points inclined towards the toes. The feet and toes
covered with triangular flat scales, those below slightly rugose. The under
surface of hinder legs towards body is covered anteriorly with flat triangular
scales, posteriorly towards femoral pores with slightly tubercular ones. The
space between rami of lower jaw coated with small irregular roundish scales,
the middle ones smallest, and anterior to them are four large plates in two rows,
the two of the front row the largest, Scales of lower surface of neck trian