Tchiioii-opis. 187 



a little smaller, smooth towards the ventral jjlates, into which they 

 pass gradually ; ventral plates rounded-hexagonal, not or but little 

 broader than long, in 8 or 10 longitudinal and 25 to 81' transverse 

 series ; 34 or 36 scales and plates round the middle of the body. 

 Preanal region covered witli irregular scales, Avhich are very small in 

 females. 



Scales or limbs smaller than dorsals, stronglv keeled, tri- to 



quinque-carinate on the arm. 9 to 13 femoral pores on each side.* 



Subdigital lamellfe pluricarinate,spinulose, 18 to 24 under the fourth toe. 



Caudal scales strongly keeled, upper similar to dorsals, 24 to 28 



in the fourth or fifth whorl behind the postanal granules. 



G-reyisli or yellowish brown above, head and back sometimes with 

 small blackish spots; two whitish streaks on each side, edged with black 

 streaks or series of spots or ocelli, the upper light streak from the 

 superciliary edge to the base of the tail, the lower from the upper lip 

 to the groin and reappearing on the tail ; sometimes a third liglit 

 streak from below the ear to the fore limb ; two black streaks on 

 each side of the head, the upper passing through the eve, the lower 

 along the edge of the mouth. Lower j^arts white. 



Hewitt thus describes the life colours of a breeding pair: "Male 

 reddish brown above ; a series of ill-defiued and almost confluent 

 black spots dorsolaterally ; more laterally a broad black band, starting 

 from the end of the snout and passing through the eve above the ear 

 and going down the tail ; more ventrally another prominent black 

 band, arising from the tip of the snout and passing along the upper 

 lip and to the shoulder, whence the band is continued along the flanks 

 to the thighs as a brilliant vermilion red streakf ; these three bauds 

 enclose two pale streaks, the more dorsal being white, and the lower 

 one bright yellow in the head and neck region ; ventrally white, except 

 on the lower lip, gular region, and neck, where there is a decided vellow 

 tinge. The female is similar, but not so brightly coloured, the yellow 

 colour being absent, and the black and red bands less Ijrilliant." 

 Measurements (in millimetres) : 



S i 



From end of snout to vent . . 50 55 



fore limb . 19 21 



Length of head . . . . . 13 13 



Width of head 75 y 



Depth of head ..... 6 tj 



* 12 to 14 in Kalahari specimens, according- to Werner. 



t I have also observed this red lateral streak in preserved male sjsecimens 

 from Zululand. 



