Note 25 — [231] CHAPTER II [IX]

Genus Ameiva.—A. tessellata, Say. Tesselated lizard.—The back and sides of the body and neck are marked by nine or ten longitudinal lines, and eighteen or twenty transverse ones, dividing the whole surface in a tesselated manner, the interstitial quadrate spaces being black; these lines are light brown on the back, and assume a yellow tint on the sides; the scales of these portions of the body are very small, convex, and rounded; the top of the head is olivaceous, covered by plates arranged thus: 2 with an intermediate small one at their tips; 1, 2, 1, the largest, 2, and 3; superior orbits of the eyes with four plates, of which the two intermediate ones are much the largest; belly bluish white; throat and neck tinged with yellow, and covered with somewhat larger scales than those of the back; anterior feet yellowish within, and covered with minute scales; on the exterior and posterior sides greenish white with confluent black spots and large scales; posterior feet behind greenish white with confluent black spots and minute scales; the anterior side yellowish covered with large scales; pores of the thigh very distinct and prominent; tail elongated, rounded above, light brown, with a few lines of black spots near the base; beneath yellowish white immaculate, the scales carinated, and placed in transverse series. Total length 1 foot, tail 8½ inches.—James.