about 12 mm. long throughout body, shorter on head. Muzzle 

 pad well developed, slightly wider than high, its entire margin 

 free, the upper edge folded back and with a deep narrow median 

 emargination, the whole surface finely and evenly rugose. 

 Behind pad the skin of the muzzle is naked and wrinkled along 

 median line above, the exact size and form of the naked area 

 varying in different individuals, but its length usually about 

 7 mm., its breadth anteriorly equal to greatest diameter of pad, 

 that posteriorly somewhat less. Under side of upper lip with 

 deep median groove extending forward to muzzle-pad. Eyes 

 excessively minute, less than 1 mm. in diameter, in some 

 individuals completely covered by the integviment, in others with 

 a pin-hole aperture.* No external ear, the meatus about 2 • 5 mm. 

 in diameter. Legs so short that scarcely more than the feet 

 project beyond general integument of body. This is particularly 

 true of the front legs, which are entirely concealed to wrist. 

 Front feet very large, the palms orbicular, permanently turned 

 outward, their surface naked, finely and evenly tuberculo-reticu- 

 late, without trace of pads. Toes, five, each armed with a long, 

 slightly-curved nail broadly grooved along under surface, that of 

 fifth digit not so large as the others. Third digit longest, second 

 and fourth sub-equal and slightly shorter, first and fifth slightly 

 shorter than second and fourth. Hind foot short, somewhat 

 triangular in outline, broad through base of toes but narrowing 

 rapidly toward heel, the five toes with well developed, curved, 

 but not flattened claws, much less enlarged than those of front 

 foot ; second, third and fourth digits sub-equal and longest, fifth 

 and first successively shorter, soles naked, reticulate, "w^th 

 five rudimentary tubercles at bases of digits, and a fifth near 

 middle of inner margin, its anterior extremity projecting so as to 

 suggest a supplemental (clawless) toe. Dorsum of pes thinly 

 clothed, the hairs at its edge forming a slight fringe. Tail 

 thickened and fleshy, about 1^ times as long as hind foot, 

 subterete but somewhat compressed, much constricted basally ; 

 scales arranged in rather irregular rings, of which there are 

 about twelve to the centimeter at middle ; hairs of tail sparse, 

 not concealing rings, sometimes forming a thin pencil. Mamnife : 

 p 2 - 2 ; i 2 - 2 = 8. 



Colour. — Fur everywhere dark slaty grey, sometimes almost 

 blackish, at others more nearly a dark smoke-grey, the hairs 

 everywhere with a noticeable metallic or purplish iridescence ; 

 underparts sometimes a little less dark than back, and occa- 

 sionally with a yellowish brown suffusion ; tail concolor with body. 



Sk-idl. — The skull is long and narrow, tapering gradually 

 forward from middle of brain-case, the widest region, to just 

 behind canines, the extreme tip of rostrum widening a little, the 

 zygomatic arches not standing out beyond general contour. 



* Much confusion has been caused by the supposition that the presence 

 or absence of this minute aperture is a specific or racial character. 



