30 



Contributions on 



terior tarsi of the males, having the basal joint as long as the 

 terminal. Moreover, although the genus certainly belongs to 

 the Scutelleridce, I have not been able to discover more than 

 two joints in the tarsi. 



Fig. 3. No. 7. Platas- 

 pis nigriventris, mag- 

 nified, (Java). 8. Ex- 

 tremity of the scutel- 

 lum and abdomen of 

 male. 9. Ditto of fe- 

 male. 10. Posterior 

 tarsi of male. 1 1 . Do. 

 of female. 



Art. VI. Contributions to South African Zoology. By Andrew 

 Smith, M.D. Surgeon to the Forces. 



No. I. 



Whilst lately engaged in examining the saurian reptiles of 

 South Africa, I found amongst them nine species referrible to 

 the genus Cordylus, of Gronovius ; and as only one of them 

 appears to be distinctly described, I here propose to charac- 

 terise the remaining eight species ; not, however, without a 

 suspicion, that some of them, at least, may have already been 

 indicated by Schlegel, in his Monograph of the genus Cordy- 

 lus, which I have not been able to consult. All the species 

 belong decidedly to the same genus ; at least, their general 

 configuration and anatomical characters, place them together: 

 yet there are modifications presented by some, which may 

 render it desirable to arrange them for the present, in sec- 

 tions, or sub-genera. The characters common to all, may 

 be indicated as those of the genus ; and the peculiarities com- 

 mon to certain of the species, as those of the sections, or sub- 

 genera. 



Genus CORD YL US, Gronov. 

 Head broader than the neck, somewhat triangular, square behind, the 

 temples bulging, above it is covered with thin plates, five of which form a dis- 

 tinct square upon the occiput. Teeth small, cylindrical, closely set, and 

 disposed in a groove, around the inner surface of both jaws; those about 

 half way between the nose and angle of the mouth, generally the largest. — 

 Tongue short, its apex emarginate. Ears partially concealed by the hinder 



