_Capite brevi, squamis neque imbricatis nec carinatis, tecto; auribus
margine anteriore tridentato; serie unicâ squamarum supralabialium;
squamis temporum magnis, rotundatis, imbricatis; colli (et præcipuè
plicæ) crassis, elevatis; facie posteriore femorum omninò granulosâ;
squamis nonnullis ad latera abdominis gulæque emarginatis; maculâ
transversè; oblongâ, nigrâ, suprà regionem scapularem._
_Tropidurus (Leiolæmus) nigromaculatus_, Weigm. Act. Acad. Cæs. Nat.
cur. xvii. p. 229.
_Proctotretus nigromaculatus_, Bibr. l. c. p. 281.
Habitat, Coquimbo, Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short, the muzzle rounded, rather obtuse; scales of
the upper part of the head somewhat convex, smooth; a single line
of scales between the labial and orbitar; ears rather large, the
anterior margin having three rather prominent scales, the middle
one being the largest. Temporal scales somewhat large, smooth,
rounded, and imbricated, those towards the upper part slightly
carinated; those of the sides of the neck thick and elevated,
those on the fold being rather acutely prominent; scales of the
back carinated, the carina terminating in an acute point; a few of
the scales at the sides of the abdomen and throat notched; the
remainder of the scales of the under parts rhomboidal. The scales
about the axilla and around the base of the shoulder are granular
and very small, as are those of the posterior surface of the
thighs, on which part there are no imbricated scales as in _Tr.
Fitzingerii_. The tail is round, excepting at the base where it is
slightly flattened; it is moderately long and slender. The
anterior extremity placed against the side does not reach to the
thigh; the posterior similarly placed reaches to the shoulder. The
colour of this species is yellowish grey above, with a yellowish
longitudinal line on each side the back, and two rows of black
spots each margined with yellow behind. There is a large and
distinct oblong black mark on the region of the scapula, from
which circumstance the species takes its name. On the posterior
surface of the thighs, towards the upper part, are three or four
black dots placed in a line. The under surface is yellowish white
with dark grey dots and lines under the chin and throat.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 5
of the body 1 5
of the tail 2 8
────────────────────────────────────────────
Total length 4 8
Length of anterior extremity 0 8
of posterior extremity 1 2
This species was first described by Weigmann, and subsequently by M.
Bibron, from specimens obtained by Gaudichaud from Coquimbo, at which
place the single specimen brought home by Mr. Darwin was also obtained.
_Plate 5._
[Illustration:
_From Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
in Lithotint C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1._ _Proctotretus_ _Fitzingerii._│_Nat. Size._
_2._ _Cyanogaster_ │ „