90 SAURIA. 



The single prsefrontal forms a suture with the rostral ; prefrontal, postfrontals, and vertical 

 meet in a point. Four superciliary shields ; the anterior occipitals are sometimes united into 

 one shield, sometimes divided into three pieces, but generally in a pair; two loreals, one 

 anteorbital. Opening of the ear with two very small denticulations in front. Twenty-six 

 longitudinal series of scales round the trunk ; thirty-six transverse series of scales between 

 the axils of the fore and hind legs. The middle pair of shields covering the vent are scarcely 

 larger than the lateral ones ; middle subcaudals slightly enlarged. 



Limbs rather short : the fore legs extend to the eye, the hind legs rather more than half- 

 way up towards the axil ; the third hind toe is one-sixth shorter than the fourth. 



Brown above, with a light band running from above the tympanum along the side of the 

 back ; sides blackish or black, this colour forming sometimes a band accompanying the light 

 one ; the lower parts yellowish. Some individuals have the sides of the head and the throat 

 dark greenish blue with numerous white dots ; others are uniform brownish. 



Ceylon. One specimen, purchased of Mr. H. Cuming, is said to be from Ningpo in China. 

 Kelaart says that it is found at Newera Ellia. The British Museum possesses one of the 

 typical specimens and several others. Total length 5^ inches ; head and trunk 2 inches. 



EUMECES CHALCIDES. 



Lacerta chalcides, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 369. 



serpens, Block, in Beschceft. Berl. Gesellsch. naturf. Freund. ii. p. 28. tab. 2. 



Scincus brachypus, Schneid. Hist. Amph. p. 192. 

 Lygosoma serpens, Gray, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 228. 



aurata, Gray, in Griff. Anim. Kingd. ix. p. 72. 



bracliypoda, Durn. ^ Bibr. Erpet. gen. v. p. 721. 



Podophis chalcides, Gray, Lizards, p. 88. 

 Lygosoma chalcides, Cantor, Catal. p. 49. 



Body and tail very elongate, with very short limbs, each with five minute toes. Supra- 

 nasal none ; the lower eyelid is scaly. 



The single prsefrontal forms a suture with the rostral and with the vertical ; anterior 

 occipitals confluent into one shield. Opening of the ear very small. Twenty-six longitu- 

 dinal series of scales round the trunk, from ninety to a hundred transverse series between the 

 axils of the fore and hind limbs. The middle anal shields a little larger than the lateral ; 

 subcaudals small. Greyish olive, with brown lines along the series of scales. 



The longest specimen I have seen measures 8 inches, head and trunk taking one-half of it ; 

 it is not thicker than a goose-quill. The species is found in Java, at Pinang, in Siam, and 

 near Hongkong. 



