fine and much curved. Nostrils small, circular, and situated in the rostral
canthus close to the nose, in the hinder part of the nasal plate,—the opening-
directed backwards and outwards. Eyes rather small, eyelids granular, the
lower lid with a central semi-transparent disc. External ear opening nearly
circular, in a line with the angle of the mouth, and its anterior edge fringed
with two or three small pointed projecting scales. Rostral plate subtri-
angular, its apex rounded; supra-nasal plates narrow, broadest anteriorly
where they are in contact; naso-rostral plate large and subrhomboidal;
fronto-nasal plates quadrangular and not in contact. Frontal plate subrhomboidal,
anteriorly slightly truncated, the two hinder sides prolonged and
terminate in a narrow point; fronto-parietal plates small, quadrangular, and
anteriorly in contact. Parietal plates large, somewhat four sided, the
posterior side longest; inter-parietal plate four sided, the two sides in front very
short, the others long ; each parietal plate margined behind by a long, narrow,
transverse plate. Palpebral plates four; the second, reckoning from behind
much the largest; between palpebral plates and upper eyelid a row of
five narrow plates, the second much the longest. Freno-nasal plate small,
subtriangular; frenal plates two, subquadrangular. Plates of upper lip,
exclusive of rostral, seven ; of lower lip, exclusive of mental, seven or eight;
post-mental plate entire and of the same size as mental. Scales of the back,
sides, and outer surface of extremities six sided, rather longest transversely,
the anterior and posterior sides shortest, each scale with three strong keels.
Scales of the under parts of the head, body, and inner surface of the extremities
also six sided, but without keels. Scales of the upper and under surface
of the tail larger than those of the body, the former with five rather slight
keels, the latter smooth. Length of an adult specimen, from nose to base of
tail 3 inches, of tail 3§ inches.
This lizard is found in the north-eastern districts of the Cape Colony, and also to the
north and east of these districts, and is often associated with Euprepes Smithii. On
observing the two so frequently, in numbers, in the same localities, I was at first disposed
to consider the differences of colour as only sexual: however, a close examination soon
satisfied me they were distinct species.
A reference to the upper surface of the tail, near its base, affords a ready means of distinguishing
the one species from the other. In Euprepes Smithii, the scales are of the same size
and figure as those of the back ; in E. pwictatissimus again, they are, measured transversely,
nearly twice the width of those of the^back; in the other direction they are as narrow, if not
narrower* than those of the back.
EUPREPES SMITHII.—G ray.
R e p t il ia .— P l a t e 3 1 .— F ig . 2.
E. supeme flavo-brunneus, lineis longitudinalibus sex variegatus; lateribus fascia longitudinali nigro-
brunnea supeme inferneque albo marginal notatis; subtus albus; squamis fortiter tricarinatis.
Longitudo k nasi apice ad basin caudee 2 | unc.; caudas 3J unc.
C01.0UR.’—The upper surface of the head intermediate between light orange-
coloured brown and yellowish brown; the plates more or less edged with
umber-brown, and sparingly freckled with small spots of the same colour.
Back and upper surface of tail dull yellowish brown, variegated with narrow,
longitudinal, umber-brown or liver-brown bands. The bands, generally six
in number on the back, commence at the hinder part of the head, and, with
the exception of the two middle ones, terminate at or close to the base of the
tail; these extend generally for some way along the middle of the tail, not
usually distinct and continuous, but as two series of irregular pale brown
spots. The back and tail is further variegated by the scales being edged with
umber-brown, and the keels also being of that colour.. On each side of the six
dorsal bands is a broad longitudinal yellowish white stripe, which commences
at the outer angle of the eye, and terminates a little beyond the commencement
of the tail, ceasing to be well defined after it has passed the hinder
extremities; below this is another broad band of a deep liver-brown colour,
beginning at the angle of the mouth, and ending immediately over the origin
of the hinder legs, which band is again edged below by a rusty white one,
narrower than either of the two last described ; inferiorly it is margined by
a narrow liver-brown line. The outer surface of the extremities coloured like
the back, and faintly variegated, the scales being edged with brown of a
deeper tint. Upper lip white, under lip, and the under surface of the head,
the body, the tail, and the inner surface of the extremities bluish white; the
sides of the tail yellowish white.