232 SPHAERODACTYLUS. 



nasal and a distinctly larger supranasal which is separated from its fellow on the 

 opposite side by a single median scale not very much smaller than one of the 

 supranasals, these three scales border the rostral above; four large supralabials, 

 on one side the third is divided, a common occurrence, the fourth supralabial 

 below the centre of the eye ; a spine on the superciliary margin above the centre 

 of the eye; head above and on the sides covered with minute granular scales, 

 sUghtly larger and flatter on the snout ; scales of back very minute and granular ; 

 mental larger than rostral; two large and one small infralabial to below the 

 centre of the eye; head above and on the sides covered with minute granular 

 scales, slightly larger and flatter on the snout; scales of back very minute and 

 granular; mental larger than rostral; two large and one small infralabial to 

 below the centre of the eye ; two small pentagonal chin-shields bordering mental 

 between the large first infralabials followed by smaller flat scales which decrease 

 in size and become extremely small on middle of throat; scales of chest and belly 

 small, rounded, slightly imbricate ; scales on upper surface of tail granular, below 

 flatter with a median series of enlarged flat transverse plates. 



Colour (in Ufe) : — Slaty gray above, rather Ught in tone; the head with two 

 narrow bands between the eyes of much darker slate, the nape with two, the 

 neck with two, and the body between fore and hind limbs with six cross-bands. 

 On the tail there are five bands but the three hinder ones are simply spots. The 

 distal three fifths of the tail is unmarked. The tail distally where unhanded, and 

 wholly below, is rosy red. The belly is pinkish gray. The bands on the head 

 extend to the chin but do not quite meet. 



Dimensions: — Total length 3-4 mm. 



Tip of snout to vent 17 mm. 



Vent to tip of tail 17 mm. 



Greatest width of head 4 mm. 



Tip of snout to ear 4 . 5 mm. 



Fore limb] 5 . 5 mm. 



Hind limb 6 . 5 mm. 



Remarks: — The most beautiful member of the genus and the smallest 

 lizard in the world. Common in houses it is so extremely small and so retiring 

 in its habits that securing a series is no easy task. It is rarely seen out of doors, 

 but its minute size may also in part account for this. 



