76 SAURIA. 



tropical regions, some extending into the temperate zones. They are thoroughly land 

 Lizards, preferring dry ground, and hiding themselves in the sand, under stones, &c. ; none 

 of them enter the water. They do not attain to any considerable size, a few West Indian 

 and Australian species growing to the thickness of a man's wrist, and exceeding a foot in 

 length. They deposit from eight to twelve globular eggs. The species of British India 

 belong to the following genera : — 



* Tail spiiiose. 



Two or three large prseanal plates Tropidophorus, p. "6. 



** Tail without any spines. 



Scales keeled Euprepes, p. 78. 



Scales smooth ; toes 5 — 5 ; the palatal notch is on a level with the eye . Mabouia, p. 82. 



Scales smooth ; toes 5 — 5 ; the palatal notch is behind the level of the eye Eumeces, p. 84. 



Scales smooth ; toes 5 — 4 Hagria, p. 94. 



Scales smooth ; toes 4 — 4 Chiamela, p- 9a. 



(No external Kmbs Anguis, p. 95.) 



TROPIDOPHORUS, Bum. Sf Bihr. 



Each scale with a strong keel ; tail longish, rounded, the keels of the 

 scales being very prominent, forming series of spines. Nostril in a single 

 small shield. Two or three large praeanal shields. Limbs four, moderately 

 developed, each with five toes. 



The Lizards of this genus are found on the continent of India and in the Philippine 

 Islands. They are Skinks, but with the keels of the scales much developed, which gives 

 them quite a peculiar appearance. Only three species are known : — 



Keels of the scales exceedingly strong T. grayi, Gthr. * 



Keels of the scales moderately developed ; three prseanal shields . . T. 7nicrolepis, p. 7Q. 

 Keels of the scales moderately developed ; two prseanal shields . . T. cochinchinensis, p. 77. 



Tropidophorus microlepis. (Plate X. fig. A.) 



Tropidophorus microlepis, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, April 23, p. 188. 



Snout rather narrow and produced ; head covered with symmetrical rugose shields above : 

 a single anterior frontal, two postfrontals ; a cuneiform vertical much narrowed between the 

 superciliaries ; two small anteiior occipitals, and two larger posterior, Avith an elongate 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, April 23, p. 189, from the Philippine Islands. 



