largest but nevertheless small. Vide Plate XLVIII. figs. 3 and 3 a. Scales
of the hack and sides small, suhrhomboidal, and the centre of each slightly
elevated, they are disposed in oblique transverse bands, and are slightly imbricated;
scales of the under surface of the neck disposed in transverse angular
lines; they are imbricate, irregularly quadrangular, and flat towards the ante-
pectoral fold, the largest, posteriorly lengthened into short points; the antepec-
toral fold edged posteriorly with twelve small squarish scales. The pectoral
plates of the first row longer and narrower than those which succeed it; the ventral
plates in transverse rows, about sixteen or eighteen in each ; the pectoral
and ventral rows together thirty. Femoral pores thirteen, the innermost of the
one side nearly in contact with that of the other, the opening of each directed
obliquely outwards and backwards. Pre-anal plates numerous, and disposed
in six rows, the hinder plates largest. Scales of the upper and lateral parts
of tail keeled, of the lower parts smooth; the hinder edge of each scale
narrower than the anterior edge. Scales of the fore-legs partly small, flat, and
imbricate, partly large, the largest anteriorly, in a longitudinal row, extending
to the toes. The scales of the hinder legs, posteriorly and externally, small,
somewhat ovate and subimbricate; below larger, triangular and imbricate, a
row of large shield-like plates in front; the soles of the feet rough from small
granular scales ; toes below with narrow, transverse, convex plates. In the
fore-feet, the middle toe and the one external to it longest and nearly equal,
the anterior one considerably the shortest, the remaining two nearly of equal
length. Two of the toes of each hinder foot very long; a small tubercle at
base of hinder toe, which is considerably removed from the other four. The
longest toe of the fore-foot, when the leg, &c. is placed along the side of the
neck, reaches to the anterior angle of the eye; the longest of the hinder foot,
when the leg is placed along the side, nearly to the opening of the ear.
Length from the point of the nose to the anus 2 unc, length of the tail 3 unc. 3 lin.
The only three specimens of this species which I possess, were obtained towards the mouth
of the Orange River. At first sight this lizard might be considered as an example of Eremias
Namaquensis, but when closely examined the points of difference are very evident. In E. Namaquensis
the lower eyelid externally is coated with rather large plates, arranged in two rows in
E. laticeps with numerous small scales; in the former the nasal plates are contiguous, in the
latter they are rather widely separated; in E. Namaquensis the scales of the body are more
lengthened, of an ovate form, separated from each other, and with minute scales scattered
between them; in E. laticeps they are imbricate, subrhomboidal, and without the small
intermediate scales. Besides these differences, many others are to be discovered on close exami-
nation.
The only other species of the genus with which it may be confounded is JE. lugubriswhen
that species exhibits little if any of the black colour; but it may at once be distinguished from
it by having, in each ventral row, sixteen or eighteen instead of eight plates, as is the case in
E. lugubris.
R e p t il ia H - P l a t e XLVI. F ig . 2.
E. supeme nigro brunnea, lineis flavis continuis interruptisve tribus variegatis; scutis nasalibus contiguis;
scutis inagnis supra oculos squamis parvis granulosis circumdatis; scutis ventralibus in ordme
transverso sex; poris femoralibus sexdecim.
Longitudo e nasi apice ad anum 2 unc.; caudas 5 unc.
Lacerta lugubris, Smith, Mag. of Zool. and Bot. (New Series) vol. ii. p. 93.
Colour.—The upper surface of the head yellowish brown shaded with
brownish red, the sides cream-yellow. The back and sides of the body liver-
brown, variegated with longitudinal stripes and spots of gamboge-yellow.
The stripes, three or five in number, commence at the posterior part of the
head, and three of them extend some distance beyond the origin of the tail;
the remaining two, which are generally very indistinct, exist one on each side
near to the abdominal plates, and are only visible between the anterior and
posterior extremities. The spots, near to the head, are disposed in the form of
bands, one between each two longitudinal stripes. Between the ear and the
base of each anterior extremity, a waved yellow line exists, and a similar one
extends between the eye and the hindhead, its termination being immediately
over the commencement of the upper line of the side. The outer surface of
the extremities brownish red, clouded with liver-brown, and finely freckled
with lemon-yellow. The under surface of the head, the body, the tail, and
the inner surface of the extremities, yellowish white ; upper surface of tail,
yellowish brown. Eyes, deep chestnut-brown.
The above are the colours of the specimen figured, but it may not fall to
the lot of another person to obtain one exactly like it. I am not acquainted
with any lizard which varies so greatly in regard of colour ; some specimens
are obtained almost entirely black, with three yellow lines, others with the
lines broken into linear spots, and others again with the sides and back, yellowish
brown, variegated with lines either yellow or light buff-orange.
F o rm , &c._Body moderately robust, and subcylindrical, tail much lengthened,
and very slender towards and at the point; head somewhat four-sided,
only slightly depressed, the sides posteriorly slightly convex; nose narrow
and rounded. Nasal plates contiguous; naso-rostral somewhat rhomboidal,
and more pointed behind than before; fronto-nasal contiguous; frontal long,
broadest anteriorly, and arched where it is in contact with the fronto-nasal
plates ; fronto-parietal, rather small, rhomboidal, and with a granule on its