CHALCIDES. 223 



ventral edge, with two pairs of short limbs, the anterior tetradactyle, 

 the posterior tridactyle ; the hind limb proportionally more developed 

 than the anterior, a little longer than the distance bet ween the fore 

 limb and the anterior corner of the eye, and contained 3| times 

 in the distance from the fore limb. 20 scales round the body, 

 subequal. Two enlarged praeanals. Tail a little shorter than 

 head and body, ending in a point. Cream-coloured, each dorsal 

 scale with_a central brown dot ; the dots form two lines on the middle 

 of the back and a dark band on each side, beginning from the nostril 

 and passing through the eye ; the two vertebral lines unite into a 

 streak on the middle of the head. 



From snout to vent 3 inches ; tail 2-8. 



Hob. Southern coast of Persia or Baluchistan ? The exact locality 

 uncertain. 



Genus CHALCIDES, 

 Laurenti, Syn. Kept. p. 64, 1768. 



Palatine bones not meeting on the median line of the palate, 

 which is toothless. Teeth conical or with obtuse crowns. Lower 

 eyelid with an undivided transparent disk. Ear more or less dis- 

 tinct. Nostril pierced between the rostral and a very small nasal 



Fig. fiO. Upper and side views of head of Chalvidcs vcettatus. 



in an ernargiuation of the former shield ; supranasals present ; prae- 

 f rentals and frontoparietals absent. Body much elongate ; limbs 

 short or rudimentary. 



Distribution. South Europe ; Africa north of the equator ; South- 

 western Asia, from Syria and Arabia to Sind. 11 species are 

 known. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Ear-opening present, limbs moderate C. ocellatus, p. 224. 



No ear-opening, limbs very small C. pentadactylm, p. 224. 



