_Squamis capitis neque imbricatis nec carinatis; temporum imbricatis,
subcarinatis, margine rotundato; aurium margine anteriore simplici;
squamis dorsalibus rhombeis, laxis, carinâ posticè acutâ; femorum
facie posteriore omninò granulosâ; corpore suprà olivaceo, fascia
utrinque longitudinali flavescenti; abdomine cœruleo._
_Proctotretus cyanogaster_, Bibr. l. c. p. 273.
Habitat, Valparaiso, and Valdivia, Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—It has been well observed by M. Bibron that this species
offers at first sight somewhat the general aspect of the genus
Algira; the acute points of the dorsal and lateral scales and the
general form giving very much that appearance.
The head is of moderate size, somewhat deflexed; the scales
moderate, flat and smooth; those of the temples are slightly
carinated, imbricated and rounded: those of the sides of the neck
small, not granular, but rhomboidal and imbricated. There is but a
single series of oblong scales between the labial ones and the
orbit. The margin of the ear is entire and simple; the scales of
the back are lozenge-shaped, the carina of moderate height but
prolonged into an acute point. Amongst those of the sides of the
neck and belly are a few which are notched at the margin.[2] The
scales of the posterior surface of the thigh are wholly granular.
Footnote 2:
This is contrary to the character given by M. Bibron, who states
that the whole of these are entire.
_Plate 6._
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature by B. Waterhouse Hawkins,
on stone in Lithotint. C. Hullmandel’s Patent._
]
_1._ │_Proctotretus Kingii_ _Nat.
│Size._
_2._ │ „
───────┼───────────────────────────────
_a. b._│_Magnified View._
The proportions of the limbs vary in the two sexes. In the male
they are considerably longer than in the female. In the latter the
posterior extremity when placed against the side extends only to
the arm, in the former it reaches to the ear. The ground colour of
the back is chesnut brown or greenish brown, with a bright
metallic green glance in certain lights; there are two light buff
longitudinal fasciæ running the whole length of the body; the
under parts are of a bright metallic blue colour. Mr. Darwin
states that in one specimen there were emerald spots on the sides,
which did not exist in another individual. This may possibly be a
sexual peculiarity.