HE TEROLEPIS CAPEN S I S .
HETEROLEPIS* CAPENSIS. S m it h .
R e p t il ia .— P l a t e LV.
H. superne pallide rubro-flavus rubro-brunneo-maculatus, infeme viridi-albus ochreo-tinctus. Capite
antice subtruncato; scutis submentalibus intermediis magnis; scuto frontali magno, sexangulo, antice
lato postice acuminato.
Colour.-—The upper and lateral parts of the body pale buff-orange,
freckled with a colour intermediate between chestnut-brown and buff-orange,
the centre of each scale being of the mixed tin t; the upper part of the head
anteriorly and the frontal and occipital plates clouded with light reddish
brown; the scales on the tail of the same colour as that with which the
back and sides are freckled. The sides of the head, the lower jaw, the row
of scales on each side next to the abdominal plates, and all the under parts
of the body and fail intermediate between pale cream-yellow and greenish
white, darkest on the under surface of the tail; the under parts with a strong
mother-of-pearl lustre. Iris to appearance greyish blue.
F orm, &c.—Head subovate, rather broader than the neck, its sides slightly
convex ; the nose truncated ; body carinated above, convex on the sides, and
flat beneath, a section exhibiting a subtriangular form; the greatest thickness
of the body about midway between the nose and the point of the tail.
The scales along the centre of the back are large and six-sided, their lateral
parts bent downwards, and on each side, where the angle from the flexure is
formed, there exists a subserrated keel ; the other scales are small, ovate, and,
with the exception of those adjoining the abdominal plates, have each a single
subserrated keel; many of the scales of the back and sides are also slightly
rugose, from their surface being thinly studded with minute granular eleva*
Ch. Gen.—Head broader than the neck. Body, above carinated. Sides convex. Abdomen flat. Section
of body subtriangular. Anterior teeth of maxillae and lower jaw larger than the rest. Nostrils situated
in the suture between nasal and freno-nasal plates. Eyes small, pupil circular. Post-ocular plates
two. Scales, forming the row along centre of back, large, six-sided, and each with two subserrated keels,
the other scales ovate and with one subserrated keel. Abdominal plates with two angles, one towards
each extremity.