May 28, 1861 We travelled to day over a vary heavy road of sand. We found by the way side a new species of reptile a kind of sand Hill Alegater or Crockadile the body was about 15 inches in length the tail 6 inches, built like the Lizzard family but covered with scales & a tough skin the scales were of Dimond shape & of a Bright yellow colorur about 8 inches in Circumfer[ence] a head the shape of a rattle snake & similar fangs he got over the ground vary slow, walking on 4 ...