TARENTOLA BIBRONII.
of each, from its tip midway to its base with transverse rugse or folds
from eight to ten in number, from where those cease to the root of the toe,
the under surface is coated with transverse rows of small scales; upper
surface of each toe towards tip with two or three large flat scales, like
nails, surrounded by small ones. Scales on the upper surface of the head
subovate and nearly flat, on the sides, before the eyes, smaller, slightly
convex, and subkeeled. On the back, sides, temples, and upper and lateral
parts ot the tail, the scaly covering consists partly of large, somewhat
triangular, convex, and carinated scales; on the back and sides disposed
in twelve longitudinal rows, on the temples thinly and irregularly distributed
andon the tail arranged in half rings; the scales of the two lateral rows
on each side of tail conical, and with a spiny point. The large keeled
scales just described, are separated more or less from each other by the
interposition of very small flat ones, which in some places, particularly
towards the middle of the back, are few in number, in others, as low on the
sides and on the temples, numerous. Scales between the branches of lower
jaw, and on the under surface of the neck very minute, on belly considerably
larger, subcircular, imbricate, and disposed in oblique rows; scales immediately
in front of anus very small, immediately behind it rather large, and
imbricate ; a series of four or five strong scales on each side of base of tail
the remainder of the under surface of the tail coated with flat imbricate
scales - those of the centre much the largest. Limbs externally coated with
large-keeled, and small granular scales; below with flat imbricate ones.
The lowermost row of large scales on each side of body rather irregular
the scales somewhat conical, and unlike those above them. Length from thé
tip of the nose to the base of the tail 3 inches; length of the tail 3 inches.
This species is widely distributed over Southern Africa, but specimens are nowhere abundant
I t occurs chiefly in rocky precipices, and in outhouses badly lighted and little frequented
On the precipices it occurs generally in the crevices of the rocks, and is chiefly observed in
dull obscure situations. It advances on the face of a perpendicular rock with great facilitv
and also ascends with ease glass or wood placed vertically. When discovered and exposed
to the light of day, it immediately seeks concealment, as if inconvenience quence of such exposure. was a conse-
TARENTOLA CAPENSIS.—S m it h .
R e pt il ia .— P late L. F ig 2.
T. superne griseo-purpura cameo-tincta et parce maculis parvis nigris albisque variegata; squamis partim
parvis tenuibusque, partim magnis ovatis, et convexis; capita ovato; pupilla verticali; digit sine
unguibus; caudal cylindraceal.
C olour.—-Head and body intermediate between broccoli-brown and
flesh-red, the lower parts of the sides and the belly tinted with ochre-
yellow, and the head, back, and sides freckled with white and liver-hrown
spots, the white ones very small, the others rather larger, a narrow liver-
brown stripe before and behind the eye. Tail pale lavender-purple glossed
with flesh-red and speckled, thinly with liver-brown spots rather larger
than those on the body. Extremities the colour of the body, only with a
greater proportion of the flesh-red, the spots chiefly of the white sort. Eyes
deep orange, coloured brown.
F orm, &c.—Head subovate and rather long; its greatest breadth, at the
temples, rather wider than the neck; sides of head slightly convex; nose
narrow and rounded, the nostrils situated close to its apex, nearly contiguous,
and each opening margined by three rather raised scales. Meatus
auditorius externus rather small, ovate, and placed obliquely about two
lines behind the angle of the mouth. Body semicylindrical, the belly
flattened. Extremities rather slender, moderately long, and each with five
short unarmed toes, the latter towards the points thin, flat, and considerably
broader than towards the base, each beneath immediately behind apex
with five or six transverse soft ridges, the last rather the shortest, the under
surface between those rugae and the origin of the toes covered with
small scales arranged in transverse rows; the upper surface of each toe
close to its point with a large flat scale like the nail of the human finger:
scales covering the head and tail of two kinds, the one kind rather large,
conical or oval, and curved, the other kind very small and granular. On