266 SPHAERODACTYLUS. 



31. Sphaerodactyltjs sputator (Sparrman). 

 Plate 8, fig. 3, 4; Plate 24, fig. 1-8. 



Lacerta sputator Sparrman. K. Svensk. vet.-akad. Handl., 1784, 5, p. 161, pi. 4, fig. 1. 

 Sphaerodactyltis sputator Barbour, {nee auct.), Mem. M. C. Z., 1914, 44, p. 270. 



Type-locality: — St. Eustatius. 



Types: — Three specimens in the Stockholm Museum. Dr. Acrelius.' 



Distribution: — Unknown but probably confined to the Island of Statia or 

 St. Eustatius. 



Diagnosis: — Medium sized, cross-banded, with large dorsal scales, keeled 

 and imbricating; about ten equalling the distance between tip of snout and 

 centre of eye; loreals many and excessively small; many large postmentals. 



Description: — I have not seen a specimen of this species. Happily Dr. 

 Lars G. Andersson has been kind enough to cause Mr. Bror Hallberg of Stock- 

 holm to draw for me two of the cotypes and from these drawings the diagnosis is 

 derived. Dr. Andersson also writes me {in lilt., 16, 11, 1919): — "Sparrman's 

 specimens are coloured as follows. Two specimens (36 + 42.5 and 30.5 X 37 nam. 

 in length) : — Head above indistinctly dotted with brown; between ear and vent 

 of pairs of brown bands, the first immediately behind the ear, 2d in front of, 3rd 

 behind, the axilla, 4th, 5th and 6th on the body, 7th at the vent. The basal part 

 of the tail is provided with 6-8 bands, more or less distinctly arranged in pairs; 

 the distal part shows no bands only small dots, in one specimen it is regenerated. 



The smallest specimen (28.3 X 18 mm.) has no bands. The head and the 

 upper surface of the neck is very distinctly and densely spotted with brown; 

 the anterior part of the body indistinctly dotted. 



All the specimens have a median dorsal line of small granules and the scales 

 are imbricating and large. As I say in my note regarding them they correspond 

 in every respect, except in colour with Blgr's diagnosis of Sph. fantasticus." 



As will be observed by comparing the figures, the form which I beheve to be 

 true fantasticus has larger dorsal scales, larger scales on the snout, large or better, 

 more enlarged postmentals and very different, larger, loreals. From its near 

 neighbour elegantulus, if Mr. Hallberg's drawings are as scrupulously accurate as 

 Mr. Fischer's, it is easily separated by the smaller dorsals and smaller loreals in 

 sputator and the very different internasal arrangement. 



Remarks: — It is really remarkable that the first sphaerodactyl to be named 



' Cf. L. G. Andersson, Bihang. K. Svensk. vet.-akad. Handl., 1900, 26, p. 27, who, I think, in- 

 correctly identifies these specimens with fantasticus of Dumfiril & Bibron. 



