manner as the fore legs; feet and toes yellowish brown. Under parts and
inner surface of extremities livid cream-yellow, and the sides of the belly are
marked with an irregular row of pale purplish brown spots; upper and
under lips yellow, dotted with umber brown; chin and throat pale yellow. Eyes reddish brown.
Fokm, &c.—Figure fusiform and the tail tapered to a fine point. Head
small and tapered anteriorly, the nose obtusely pointed. Body somewhat
quadrangular, the angles rounded and the back and sides slightly convex.
Tail towards base quadrangular, towards point cylindrical. Frontal plate
five sided, anteriorly triangular; vertibral plates four, the two middle ones
the largest and all externally edged with a row of oblong narrow plates
which form the upper margin of the orbit. Fronto-nasal plate large and
diamond-shaped ; the inner and hinder parts of the fronto-parietal and the
anterior and inner parts of the parietal plates separated from each other by
the intervention of a small diamond-shaped occipital plate. Temporal plates
small, many-sided, and generally^seven in number,—one in the centre, and
six surrounding it. Labial scales six on upper jaw, and four on ower; the
fourth scale of the upper the longest, and situated directly below the
eye. M eatus auditorius externus narrow, vertical and in front partly concealed
by a triangular or somewhat semicircular scale, which extends
outwards and backwards from the hinder edge of temple. Lateral duplica-
ture of skin moderately developed. Scales of body and tail quadrangular
and arranged in transverse rows, each scale with a central carina. Mental
plates four, the two hinder ones the largest; the throat and breast covered
with somewhat six-sided scales, in shape like two triangles joined at their
bases. These scales are arranged in longitudinal rows, are slightly imbricate
and larger on the breast than the throat. Plates of the belly disposed in
transverse rows ten in each, of a quadragular form and perfectly smooth.
Preanal plates three in a single row, the middle one of a diamond-shape
excepting that anteriorly it is truncate. Scales covering the under surface
of tail at base quadrangular and smooth, towards tip triangular with their
apex rounded. The fore legs are coated with smooth subovate and imbricated
scales; the hinder ones anteriorly and inferiorly with large somewhat
six-sided scales; posteriorly with small triangular and carinated scales.
Femoral pores fifteen or sixteen, and protrude but very little beyond the
scales lying anterior to them. Soles of the feet coated with small subgra-
nular scales.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length from the nose to the base of
the tail ........................... 3 6
of the tail — ......................
8 0
from nose to meatus auditorius
externus ............................ 0 10
Inches. Lines.
Length from nose to base of fore legs 1 2
between fore and hinder legs 2 2
of fore legs to toes............... 0 7g
of hinder legs to toes........... 1 2
The colours of the male and fem ale are nearly if not quite alike.
A variety of this species is occasionally procured in Southern Africa, on which only very few
if any of the yellow and liver brown spots exist, which ar* described as occurring on the back
and sides of the individuals more commonly obtained. Tins variety is represented by Wagler,#
and all the specimens of it which I have seen had the chin and throat coloured as represented
in his plate.
Both are found within the boundaries of the Cape Colony; but the one which is most
profusely variegated is by far the most common. The former I have only seen in damp
shady situations, abundantly coated with brushwood ; the latter sometimes in similar situations,
but more frequently in dry, arid plains, furnished with a considerable quantity of underwood.
In whatever situations. they are discovered, they always immediately seek concealment, and
generally attempt it by burrowing under decayed leaves, or loose earth. The range of this
species is extensive, and specimens were obtained by the expedition party, even as far north as
-the Tropic of Capricorn.
* Descriptiones et leones Amphibiorum Auctor, Dr. J. Wagler, Plate xxxiv.