EUMECES ISODACTYLUS. 93 



Back brownish, \vith four series of black dots, and with a yellowish-white band arising 

 from the nose and from the superciliaries ; a series of black dots along each edge of these 

 bands ; each scale on the sides with a black dot, the upper dots being the largest and ron- 

 fluent. Lower parts uniform white. 



This species attains to the length of 4 or 5 inches, the head and trunk measuring 2 inches. 

 Jerdon mentions a specimen 9 inches long, and says that it is common in the Carnatic. 

 According to Blyth it is also found in Ceylon. The British Museum possesses a specimen 

 from Patna, and others from the Nilgherries. 



EuMECES PUNCTATUS. The Lotted Skink. 



Lacerta punctata, L. Syst. Nat. p. 369. 



interpimctata, Gm. L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1075. 



Seps scincoides, Cicv. Regne Anim. 



Eumeces punctatus, Wlegm. Herp. Mex. p. 36. 



Riopa punctata. Gray, Lizards, p. 96. 



Supranasal shields in contact with each other. Limbs feeble, with very short toes, the 

 third hind toe being but little shorter than the fourth. The lower eyelid is transparent. 



The single preefrontal forms a suture with the vertical. Four superciliary shields ; a pair 

 of anterior occipitals; front margin of the ear tubercular, not denticulated. Twenty-four 

 longitudinal series of scales round the trunk, seventy-nine transverse series between the axils 

 of the fore and hind legs. Middle anal shields not enlarged ; no broad subcaudals. 



The fore legs extend to, or somewhat beyond, the ear ; the length of the hind legs is two- 

 ninths of that of the trunk. 



Each scale with a black dot, the dots forming longitudinal series ; they are largest on tlie 

 back of the tail, and sometimes entii'ely absent on the belly. The outer series of scales on 

 each side of the back has very small dots. 



This species is found on the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel, in the neighbourhood of 

 Madras, and in the Deccan. Kelaart (Prodr. Faun. Zeylan. p. 151) mentions it as inhabiting 

 Ceylon, but this requires confirmation. It attains to a length of 12 inches, the head and 

 trunk measuring 5 inches. 



Eumeces isodacttlus. The Short-toed Skink. (Plate XIII. fig. A.) 



Supranasal shields separated by the rostral. Limbs feeble, with very short toes, the tliird 

 and fourth hind toes being equal in length. The lower eyelid is scaly. 



