EEPTILBS. 13
• scales o f th e back are lozenge-shaped, th e ca rina o f moderate h e ig h t b u t prolonged in to an
acu te p oint. Amongst those o f th e sides o f th e n e c k an d belly are a few which are notched
a t th e margin.» T h e scales o f th e posterior surface o f th e th ig h are wholly granula r.
T h e proportions o f th e limbs vary in th e two sexes. I n th e male th e y are considerably
longer th a n in th e female. I n th e la tte r th e posterior e x trem ity when p lac ed aga inst th e side
ex ten d s only to th e arm, in th e former it re ache s to th e ear. T h e g ro u n d colour o f th e back
is ch e sn u t brown or g re enish brown, w ith a b rig h t metallic g re en glance in ce rta in l ig h ts ;
th e re are two lig h t buff long itu d in a l fescias ru n n in g th e whole len g th o f th e b o d y ; th e u n d e r
p a rts are o f a b rig h t metallic b lu e colour. Mr. D a rw in states th a t in one specimen th e re were
eme rald spots on th e sides, which d id n o t ex is t in an o th e r individua l. T h is may possibly be a
sexual peculiarity.
DIMENSIONS OF A MALE SPECIMEN.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head....................................... 0 6
of the body ................................... 1 9
o f t h e t a U ....................................... 3 3
T o t a lle n g th .,.. 5 8
Length of anterior extremity ..................... 1 0
of posterior extremity ................. 1 5
Found by Mr. Darwin a t Valparaiso, and a t Valdivia ; the former is a very
dry rocky country, with a scanty vegetation ; whereas the latter is nearly level,
covered with the thickest forest, and the climate exceedingly humid.
P r o c t o t r e t u s K i n g i i , N.S.
P late V I.—F ig . 1, 2.
Squamis capitis ncque imbricatis nec carinatis ; supralabialibus in serie unicâ ; aurium
margine anteriore granuloso; interdum unidentata ; squamis, dorsalibus carinatis,
posticè acuminatis, femorum facie posteriore præcipuè granulosâ, sed portione parva,
caudam versus, squamis parvis, rotundatis imbicratis tectâ.
Habitat, P o rt Desire in Patagonia.
D e s c m p t io n .— Ge n era l form robust a n d full ; th e h e a d short, thick, an d passing in to th e n eck withou
t any d istin c t co ntra ction ; th e muzzle rounded. Scales o f th e h e a d la rg e r in prop o rtio n th an
P r . Fitzingerii. E a r large , oval, with th e an te rio r margin g ra n u la r, sometimes
to o th ed . Scales o f th e temples o f modera te size, im b ricated , smooth, somewhat raised. A
single ran g e o f oval modera te-sized scales betwe en th e lab ial a n d th e o rb ital scales on the
• This is contrary to the character given by M. Bibron, who states tbat the wbole of these are entire.