fine point which tends to curl. Gunther1 records that in a Penang specimen in
which the tail had been reproduced, this member terminated in a dilated flap, and,
Stoliczka2 mentions an apparently similar case.
Inches.
Adult male, length of body . . . . . . . . . 2'00
„ „ tail . . . . . . . . . 2‘20
These specimens fully verify Stoliczka’s observation that the ungual phalanx
of the thumb is distinctly present in a rudimentary form, and that the ungual phalanx
of the inner toe, so far from being absent, is provided with a very minute claw,
even in the adults. Stoliczka, however, was unable to detect its presence in some old
specimens. The existence of the ungual phalanges in both of these toes removes
any necessity for separating this lizard generically from Hemidactylus, as the mere
absence of a claw on the thumb, considering the rudimentary nature of this structure
in some Hemidactyli, cannot well be regarded as of structural importance. The
circumstance, however, that the other species H. meyeri is also devoid of a claw on the
thumb, would seem to indicate that these two forms may with advantage be grouped
under the sub-generic term Peripia, more especially as they are also distinguished by a
fold of skin along the back of the thigh, and between the thigh and lower leg.8 The
genus Spathodactylus* has still more rudimentary thumbs and first toes, and the
plates are less developed than in Hemidactylus and its sub-division Peripia, but the
characters which separate Spathodactylus from Peripia do not appear to be more
than sub-generic. The toes of H. (P.) mutilatus are distinctly webbed at the base,
and Cope remarks that P. packardii agrees with Gunther’s description of P. peromi,
except that the former has all the toes strongly palmate at the base. JP. packardii,
was obtained at Penang, and is apparently identical with this species.
HEMIDACTYLUS MACULATTJS, D. & Bibr.
Hemidactylus maculatus, D. & B ib r., Erp£t. Genl., vol. iii, 1886, p. 868 {pars.); Gray, Cat,
Lizards, B. M . (pars.), p. 1 5 3 ,1 8 4 5 ; Dumeril, Cat. Method. Kept., 1852, p. 39 (pars.); Kelaart,
F au n a Zeylanica, (nee., H. Sykesii), 1852; vol. i, p . 158; Jerdon, Jo u rn . As. Soc., Bengal,
vol. xxii, 1853, p. 4 6 7 ; Gu n th er, Kept., B rit. In d ia , 1864, p . 107 (pars.) ; Theobald, Jo um .
L in n . Soc,, 1868, vol. x, p . 3 2 ; Stoliczka, Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxix, 1870, p. 1 6 4 ;
id. op. cit, vol. x li, 1872, p . 9 4 ; Blanford, op. cit., vol. xxxix, 1870, p. 8 6 1 ; Zool. Persia,
1876, p. 3 4 2 ; Peters, Yon De r Decken's Reisen, vol. iii, p t. 1, 1869, p. 1 4 ; Anderson, Proc,
Zool. Soc., 1871, p. 160 ; Ferguson, S e p t., Fauna, Ceylon, p. 1 1 .1 8 7 7 .
Nubilia argentii, Gray, Cat. Lizards, B. M., 1845, p. 273.
Gecko tytleri, T ytler, Jo u rn . As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxiii, 1864, p. 547.
Hemidactylus fasciatus, Theobald, Jo um . As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxvii, 1868, p . 30.
The two Geckos which I refer to this species were obtained at Tsagain in Upper
Burma. The sides and upper surface of the body, nape, sides of neck, upper surface
*1. c.
8 l.c.> p. 163.
3 Stoliczka, observing that some of the posterior plates on the toes are only angularly bent and not divided, even
•went so far as to hold that the species included under Peripia should, strictly speaking, form only a section of the
genus Gecko.
f * Gunther, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1872, p. 594.
SAURIA. 801
of limbs and tail are covered with numerous enlarged tubercles, none of which are as
large as the ear. On the back, they are considerably smaller than on the sides and
are trihedral in form, while in the latter region they are rounded. They are very small
on the nape, and gradually cease between the eyes posteriorly. On the trunk, they
form about eighteen irregular longitudinal rows. On the upper surface of the limbs,
they are large and somewhat conical. On the tail, they are spinose, and considerably
larger than on the back, and are arranged in transverse rows of six to seven in
number, the most external assuming the form of spines and being the largest. They
are not distributed throughout the length of the tail, but are confined to its
proximal two-thirds, and form about 13 rows, the remainder of the tail being covered
with flattened moderately sized, but non-imbricate scales. The remainder of the
body-skin is very finely granular. The preanal scales are somewhat enlarged, and
the mesial line of the proximal two-thirds of the under surface of the tail is occupied
by a series of large plates, with two to three rows of moderately sized imbricate
scales external to them. There are eleven longitudinal rows of small scales between
the vent and the commencement of these sub-caudal plates which invest the whole
of the under surface of the latter third of the tail. The thumb and inner toe are
well developed. Two pairs of enlarged plates behind the mental. The throat scales
are very small, and almost granular in appearance, but imbricate. Eleven to twelve
upper, and eight to nine lower labials. The femoral pores in these two males are only
seven on either limb, and in both they do not meet in the middle line, but are
separated by an interval of six moderately sized scales, larger than those of the middle
of the belly. Beyond these there are no other enlarged preanals.
Erom the foregoing description it is apparent that the only respect in' which
these lizards differ from the generality of the examples of this species is in the comparatively
small number of the femoral pores.
In the reproduced tail the sub-caudal plates are broader than in the normal
member, and the spinous tubercles of the upper surface and sides of the tail are not
reproduced.
Inches.
Length of body ( m a l e ) ................................................. . . . . 2*40
| | | t a i l ................................................................... 2-80
The coloration of these specimens is uniform olive greyish-brown above, with
obscure indications of moderately sized dark spots. There is a dark band through
the eye to the ear. Under surface pale yellowish.
H e m id a c t y l u s e r e n a t u s , Schlegel.
Hemidactylus frenatus, Schlegel, B . & Bib., E rpe t. Genl., vol. iii, 1886, p. 8 6 6 ; Cat. Method.,
Reptiles, 1851, p . 8 9 ; Kelaart, Prod. Faunae Zeylan., vol. i, 1852, p. 1 6 1 ; Cantor, Jo um . As.
Soc., vol. xvi, 1847, p. 6 8 0 ; Giinther, Rept. B rit. In d ., 1864, p. 1 0 8 ; Peters, Von der Deckend
Reisen in Ost-Afrika, vol. iii, E rste Abth. p. 14, 1869; Stoliczka, Jo um . As. Soc., vol. xxxix
1870, p. 164; id., op. cit., vol. xli, 1872, p. 9 6 ; Theobald, Joum. L in n . Soc., vol. x , 1868,
p. 8 1 ; Descr. Cat. Rept. B rit. In d ., 1876, p. 78.
Gecko chaus, Tytler, Jo um . As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxiii, 1864, p. 547.
e 5