Bevised List of South African Beptiles and Batrachians. 483 



Eye very small, with lower lid Acontias. 



Eye concealed under the shields Typhlo»aurus. 



1. MABUIA. 



Fitzing. N. Class. Eept. p. 23 ; Bouleng. Cat. Liz. iii. p. 150. 



Synopsis of the South African Species. 



I. Subdigital lamellse and scales on soles smooth or tubercu- 

 larly keeled. 



A. 28 to 32 scales round the body ; anterior border of ear 

 with 2 or 3 long pointed lobules. 



Frontonasal in contact with frontal ; a light lateral streak, 



passing through the ear M. homalocepliala. 



Fraefrontals usually forming a median suture ; no light lateral 



streak M. peringueiji. 



B. 34 or 36 scales round the body ; anterior border of ear 



with 3 short rounded lobules M. gruetzneri. 



II. Subdigital lamellae keeled ; scales on soles often keeled or 

 spinose, especially in the young. 



A. Subocular not narrowed inferiorly, similar in shape 

 to the upper labials. 



Snout pointed ; 36 to 44 scales round the body ; ear-opening 



with 3 to 5 short obtusely pointed lobules anteriorly . . . . 21. quinquetaniaia. 



Snout very obtuse ; 30 to 36 scales round the body ; scales on 



anterior border of ear not differentiated M. trivittata. 



Snout very obtuse ; 30 or 32 scales round the body ; 2 or 3 



large projecting auricular lobules M. occidentalis. 



B. Subocular narrowed inferiorly, or not reaching the lip. 

 1. Snout normal. 



a. Ear-opening partly concealed under long pointed 



lobules ; lower border of subocular usually more 



than one-third the length of the upper ; 30 to 



34 scales round the body. 

 Hind limb not reaching the axil ; a light lateral streak passing 



through the ear M. varia. 



Hind limb reaching the axil M. Idldehrandti. 



h. Ear-opening largely exposed, ear-lobules very 



short ; lower border of subocular, if reaching 



the lip, not more than one-third the length of 



the upper ; 32 to 40 scales round the body. 

 Scales mostly tricarinate, sometimes quinquecarinate ; a more 

 or less distinct light lateral band, proceeding from above the 



eye 



M. striata. 



Scales quinquecarinate ; head and body remarkably depressed ; 

 brown above, uniform or spotted with black, uniform black, 



or light with six dark longitudinal bands M. sulcata. 



2. Snout much depressed, with deeply concave sides, 

 sharp canthus rostralis, and angularly projecting 

 upper labials ; ear-lobules long ; 28 to 32 scales 

 round the body 21. acutilabris. 



