NESSIA MONODACTYLA. 97 



similar to each other, that I do not venture to separate them into two different genera. 

 No previous observer has had an opportunity of comparing both species. 



Feet divided into three minute toes N. burtonii, p. 97. 



Feet undivided N. monodactyla, p. 97. 



Nessia BUKTONII. 



Nessia burtonii. Gray, Ann. ^ Mag. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 336. Kelaart, Prodr. Faun. Zeyl. ii. p. 12. 



Body and tail elongate, cylindrical, as in a Blindworm. Tail generally shorter than the 

 body, fi'om its being constantly broken off and reproduced. Eostral shield large, pro- 

 truding, depressed, pierced laterally by the nostril, behind which is a longitudinal groove. 

 Frontals confluent into one large shield ; vertical large, subquadrangular, concave laterally 

 to receive the supraorbitals, which are four in number ; three occipital shields, the middle 

 of which is the largest, triangular. A very long loreal shield, below which is the first 

 labial, which is similar in form and length to the loreal ; several other imbricate, scale-like 

 labials behind. Trunk surrounded by twenty-five longitudinal and by eighty-four transverse 

 series of smooth equal scales ; prseanals and subcaudals scarcely larger than the others. 

 Eye small ; opening of the ear not visible. Feet very short and feeble ; the hind feet are 

 about as long as the snout ; each terminates in three minute toes with short claws. Colour 

 brownish above, whitish below, each scale with a darker margin. 



This species grows to a length of 5 inches, the head and trunk measuring -3. Kelaart 

 obtained specimens from Kaduganava and from AUagalla (3000 feet), and was informed that 

 it is common at Ambegammoa. 



Nessia monodactyla. 



Evesia monodactyla, Gray, I. c. 



bellii, Dum. ^ Bibr. v. p. 783. 



Tetrapedos smithii, Jan, in Wiegm. Arch. 1860, p. 69. tab. 2. fig. 4. 



This species is so similar to N. burtonii, that we need not give a lengthened description or 

 figure of it ; it may be readily recognized by the following characters : — Trunk surrounded 

 by twenty-two or twenty-five longitudinal and by 102 transverse series of scales. Opening 

 of the ear minute, but distinct. Feet very short and feeble, the hind feet about half as long 

 as the snout, not terminating in toes. 



The proportions of the body and tail are the same as in N. burtonii. 



