second third of the tail, being edged both above and below by a distinct
shade of liver-brown, which is most distinct on the tail, and extends much
beyond the end of the light line. Below the red of the sides there is a
second longitudinal yellowish white line which extends between the meatus
auditorius externus and the base of hinder leg. Belly, throat, and under
surface of legs ochre-yellow; the sides of the belly below the second light
line closely mottled with liver-brown. Upper surface of extremities liver-
brown with many spots of the colour of the back; toes and claws transparent
brownish yellow, the former above, speckled with umber-brown. Temples
the same colour as the sides of the body; the remainder head umber-brown. of the sides of the
F o rm , &c.—Figure of male rather slender, the body and base of tail
slightly depressed, and the latter moderately long and tapered to a very fine
ooint: the female is rather robust, and each individual part is on a larger
scale than in the male. Head quadrangular, superiorly, towards the nose
gently sloped, towards the nape level. Frontal plate narrow and widest
anteriorly; fronto-parietal plates five-sided, the side which joins frontal
plate very short. Inter-parietal plate somewhat quadrangular and widest
ehind; interfronto-parietal plate diamond-shaped, and a portion of it
between the anterio-internal angles of the parietal plates. Naso-rostral
p ate large and behind pointed, the point lying between the fronto-nasal
plates. Palpebral plates two, forming an oval disc which anteriorly and
posteriorly is edged with scales, one of which, over and in front of the eye is
rather large. Temples slightly convex, and covered with small granular
scales., Meatus auditorius externus semilunar and margined anteriorly with a
few small spinous scales. Skin of body rather loosely connected to the
subjacent parts, and often forms a longitudinal fold on each side of the body,
extending from the ears to the hinder leg, also occasionally a circular one
behind the head, the loose edge of which is directed forwards. Scales
covering back and sides small, circular, closely set, and slightly convex;
those on base of tail superiorly the same, on-sides of tail towards its base
triangular and keeled, each keel prolonged and ending in a spinous point.
About an inch beyond the commencement of the tail the small scales give
place to oblong and quadrangular ones, which are arranged in whorls, and
each has a distinct keel, which in some parts is prolonged beyond the scale
in the form of a spinous point. Scales of the extremities partly rather large,
triangular, and keeled, partly very small and granular. Abdominal plates
quadrangular and disposed in transverse rows, about twenty-eight in each.
Gular collar immediately in front of sternum distinctly indicated, the
posterior loose edge of the scales forming it, triangular or slightly semilunar.
Preanal plates in two or three rows, the middle one of the two hindermost
rows much the largest and somewhat six-sided. Femoral pores twenty-eight.
Toes long, slender, and each externally edged with a serrated fringe consisting
of slender pointed scales. Length of adult specimens generally about ten
inches, of which the tail forms about six.
This lizard is found on the sandy districts of Great Namaqualand, and where the surface of
the country is irregular it is generally met on the highest spots. Where small sand-hills
occufjlt resorts to them in preference to the other localities, and, from the peculiar assistance
it derives from the serrated fringe which edge; its toes, it runs over the loose sand on the steep
surfaces of those slopes, with great rapidity. It feeds upon small insects.