160 SAURIA. 



PHRYNOCEPHALUS, Kaup. 



Head very short, depressed, obtusely rounded in front ; nostrils in front 

 of the snout, directed upwards and forwards. Tympanum hidden. Body 

 and tail depressed, covered with very small scales ; no dorsal crest what- 

 ever ; throat with a transverse fold ; no prseaiial or femoral pores. 



The species of this genus may be easily recognized by the form of the head, which is 

 extremely short, and almost as broad as long ; there is no canthus rostralis ; and a very distinct 

 groove runs round the upper jaw, above the labial shields. The nostrils are entirely in front 

 of the snout, being directed forwards. Labial shields numerous, small, square, or sometimes 

 triangular, like fringes ; rostral none, replaced by several labials. Tongue slightly pointed, 

 not notched. Eyes rather small, with the eyelids well developed, the upper being hidden 

 below the projecting superciliary ridge. Head covered above with small shields, those on 

 the snout and occiput being the largest and convex. Throat with granular scales. Trunk 

 much depressed, covered with veiy small scales above, which become granular on the sides ; 

 those of the belly are rather larger than those on the back. Tail depressed, at least at its 

 base, in some species rather slender, in others somewhat stouter, and said to be prehensile ; 

 it is covered with scales similar to those on the trunk. Legs well developed. 



This genus is peculiar to Central Asia ; but the two following species extend southwards 

 to Afghanistan and to the southern parts of Tibet. They are probably inhabitants of rocky 

 parts, and we doubt much whether the tail of some of the species is truly prehensile. 



Tail slender, with spinous tubercles at its base .... Ph. tickelii. 



Tail stoutish, without tubercles Ph. caudivolvulus. 



PHRYNOCEPHALUS TICKELII. 



? Phrynocephalus olivieri. Bum. ^ Bibr. iv. p. 517. 

 Phrynocephalus tickelii, Gray, lAzards, p. 260. 



Tail depressed at the base, slender, not prehensile, vnth. a series of small spinous tubercles 

 along each side of its basal portion. Scales of the upper parts of equal size, except in the 

 sacral region, where some larger ones are intermixed with the others. Thirty-one upper 

 labials, most of which are triangular and slightly pointed. The hind leg extends to the eye, 

 if laid forwards. Tail with alternate broad whitish and blackish rings. 



'b'- 



The typical specimen of Ph. tickelii is from Afghanistan, and in a bad state of preservation. 

 It is at all events very closely allied to, if not identical with. Ph. olivieri. The latter appears 

 to have square upper labial shields, more numerous larger dorsal scales, and tubercles on the 

 root of the tail. Whether these differences are of specific value, we cannot decide from a 



