_Capite squamis parvis, lævibus, non imbricatis; aurium margine
anteriore granuloso; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium; squamis
temporum subcarinatis, imbricatis; collo ad latera granuloso;
squamis dorsalibus parvis, rhombeis, carinâ humili, posticè obtusâ;
facie posteriore femorum omninò granulosâ._
_Proctotretus pictus_, Bibr. l. c. p. 276.
Habitat, Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—This species is moderately slender in its general form,
but more fusiform than _Pr. tenuis_, which it much resembles in
many of its characters. The head, which is rather short, and with
the snout rounded, is covered with numerous small flat plates
which vary exceedingly in their form and arrangement. The upper
surface of the head is flattened, and the superciliary ridges
distinctly marked. The temples are covered with small flat scales,
which are slightly imbricated and carinated. The sides of the neck
are granulated; and the anterior margin of the auditory cavity has
small simple granulations. The scales of the back are
distinguished from those of many other species by the flatness of
the carina which is also obtuse posteriorly; they are small and
closely imbricated. Those of the sides are almost without any
carina, and those of the belly and throat small and very smooth,
and the whole of them entire. The upper parts of the limbs are
covered with scales similar to those of the back, but smaller.
Those of the under part of the fore arm are similar, but beneath
the thighs they are smooth and on the posterior part of the thighs
they are wholly granular. The tail is furnished with quadrilateral
carinated scales disposed in whorls. The margin of the cloaca has
from two to four pores.
The colour of this species varies greatly. Bibron has enumerated
three principal varieties, of which I have several specimens,
which were brought home and presented to me by Capt. King, who
obtained them during his survey of the coast of South America.
These varieties, however, occasionally run into each other.
Var. A. General colour of the upper part bronzed or coppery,
having a green longitudinal line on each side of the back, at the
inner margin of which is a series of very distinct black dots. The
sides of the neck and body are of a similar colour to the back,
with indistinct black spots; beneath this part the ground colour
becomes blue with black dots. The throat is blackish, and the
inferior surface generally is very pale bluish green.
Var. B. This variety is described by M. Bibron as of a brown
colour more or less dotted with yellow, and having a line of that
colour along each side of the back, extending from the posterior
angle of the eye to the base of the tail, and having on each side
a series of angular black spots. Some of these spots on the upper
part of the flanks, become dilated, so as to form a sort of
vertical or transverse waved bands, with yellowish margins. On the
neck there are small black lines, and the upper part of the head
is brown with blackish spots. The upper surface of the legs and of
the tail is brown with transverse bands composed of black dots.
The whole under surface is of a whitish colour, sometimes having a
slight tint of orange towards the posterior parts, marbled with
black.
Var. C. In this variety the general colour is dark brown, and the
yellow or green longitudinal lines which characterize the former
varieties are but slightly marked; but the black spots unite and
form irregular transverse bands.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 6
of the body 1 8
of the tail 4 6
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7 0
This specimen very much resembles in its more tangible characters, the
_Pr. tenuis_; from which, however, it differs totally in the colouring,
and in some measure also in the general form, which is more thick and
robust.
Found in Chile by M. Gay, from whence I also received specimens from
Capt. King, and other sources.—“Valparaiso.” Mr. Darwin.