CORDYLUS POLYZONÜS.
ally like two keels; the scales of the temples hard, rugged, indistinctly keeled,
and one over each external ear, somewhat triangular and prominent, so as to
form a strong spine, extending outwards and backwards. Vide Plate XXX.
fig. 7 a. Scales of the neck superiorly, and those of the back and sides rather
large, quadrangular, and arranged in distinct transverse rows, about forty in
number, each scale with an obtuse and slightly developed keel; scales of the
sides of the neck somewhat triangular, rather tubercular, and each with a
prolonged apex directed outwards and backwards. The fore-legs and the
upper and posterior surfaces of the hinder legs somewhat diamond-shaped
and strongly keeled, each keel behind terminating in an acute point; the
scales of the under and anterior surfaces of the hinder leg somewhat hemispherical
and smooth. Tail covered with rugged keeled scales disposed in
rings, the keels of the upper and lateral scales most developed, and each
posteriorly is prolonged and forms a spiny point, the latter most lengthened
on those of the sides near to the body; towards the tip of the tail the keels are
distinct, but the spiny prolongations are hardly visible. Space between ram i
of lower jaw covered with small quadrangular scales arranged in longitudinal
rows ; scales of under surface of neck subovate and disposed in oblique rows,
those of under parts of body rather small, quadrangular, and in transverse
rows, eighteen in each. Pre-anal space covered with small flat irregular
scales, one on each side of the central scale of hindermost row larger than
the others and five-sided; immediately behind anus a transverse band of
small - scales not so distinctly marked as in Cordylus griseus, and at each of
the anterior angles of this band there are two larger scales, one the innermost
flat, the other tubercular and pointed. Feet moderately large; toes rather strong
and armed with short, pointed, and curved nails ; under surfaces of feet and
toes covered with rugged tubercular scales. Femoral pores very small—(see
Plate XXX. fig. 7 bj—about eighteen in number, and disposed in a single
row, none projecting beyond the circumjacent scales, which affords a character
by which this species is readily to be distinguished from Cordylus griseus.
Adult specimens usually measure from nine to ten inches.
This species is rarely found within the boundaries of the Cape Colony, but specimens - are
readily procured to the north of the Orange River. In the districts it inhabits, it in some measure
takes the place of Cordylus griseus, for though the latter is found in them also, it never
occurs so abundantly as more to the southward. Like the last-named species it chiefly inhabits
rocky hills, but it is also often found under solitary rocks or large stones.
Thenumber of the transverse rows of'scales on the back, -the small size of the femoral pores,
and the.greater size of this'reptile, are leading characters by which it is to be distinguished
from the only, other species with which it ,can be confounded.
CORDYLUS GRISEUS.—Cuv.
R eptilia. P late XXVIII. F igs. 2 and 3.
Ë. superhe flavo-brunneus, subtus viride flavus ; dorso Iateribusque maculis striisve brunneis variegatis ;
extremitatibus maculis brunneis variis ; squamarum ordinibus viginti-septem inter nucham et basin
caudæ.
Longitudo e naso ad basin caudæ 2 une. 8 lin.; caudæ 3 une. 4 lin.
Cordylus griseus, niger, et dorsalis, Cuv., Régné Animal, 2d ed. tom. il. p. 33.
Zonurus griseus, Dum. et Bib., Erpet. Général, tom. v. fol. 351.
Colour.—The upper and lateral parts of the head, body, and tail yellowish
brown deadened with brownish orange, the back and sides variegated with a
number of irregular umber-brown blotches or short bars ; tail slightly clouded
or shaded with umber-brown stripes, and the extremities, particularly the
hinder ones, variegated sparingly with umber-brown spots ; under parts
greenish yellow. Eyes reddish brown.
V ar. F ig . 3.—The upper and lateral parts of the head, body, and tail, also
the extremities bright purplish brown ; the under parts pale buff orange.*
F orm, &c.—Head rather small and subtriangular, the temples convex but
less prominent than in the other species ; neck as broad as the hind head ;
body subovate and superiorly slightly convex ; tail depressed at the base
cylindrical towards the point, the latter acute; legs moderately long and
slender. The upper surface of the head flat and slightly granular, the
palpebral on the same plane with the other plates,the form of the plates represented
in Plate XXX, fig. 8 ; the sides of the head anterior to the eyes nearly
perpendicular, the upper lip rather protuberant, the sides behind the eye (the
temples) slightly convex, and covered with irregular-shaped, rugose, and
* Besides this variety several others might be described, but as each is so easily to be recognized as approaching
one of the two kinds noticed, it is not considered necessary to instance the many individual
differences which occur in this species.