116 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [ May, 
eye the largest. Hight lower labials: alarge shield behind the 
mental succeeded by three pairs of large shields, separated from 
each other by a median, longitudinal, row of three smaller shields. 
External ear completely hidden. Twenty-nine to thirty rows of 
smooth, imbricate scales round the middle of the body. Two large 
preanal scales. 
Colour of dried specimen yellowish buff above, each scale with a 
white spot in the centre of its free margin with a brown spot on 
either side of it. Ten vertically elongated, or more or less rounded, 
deep red-brown spots along the side from the middle of the neck to 
above the thigh, the last spot reduced to little more than a speck. 
Sides and under surface yellowish. Snout to vent 4” 12’; vent to 
tip of tail 2” 5’”; snout to posterior margin of occipital 8’ ; anterior 
limb 1” 1”; posterior limb, 1” 2”. 
The nails of this scine are flat and broad, and rather concave on the 
under surface : the toes are laterally extended by the outward elon- 
gation of the dorsal scales, an arrangement which gives the foot 
great breadth, and suggests the idea that it is specially modified to a 
fossorial habit of life. 
The specimen from which this description is drawn, was obtained 
by Babu Rajendralala Mitra from a Kashmir merchant, who stated 
thatit came from Arabia and that it was the El-adda of the Arabs. 
It is extremely likely that this term is a generic one applied to a 
number of nearly allied scines, inhabiting Arabia, Syria, Egypt and 
Abyssinia, (see antea, p. 96), 
The present species is distinguished from S. officinalis,—if the 
descriptions and drawings of that lizard are correct,—by its more 
markedly fossorial snout and by the number, form and disposition 
of its cranial plates, and by its peculiar coloration. Another species 
from Arabia is the Sc. meccensis, Hemp. and Hhr. 
The reading of the next paper was postponed. 
Notes on several Arabic and ‘Persian inscriptions, by H. Bloch- 
mann, Hsq., M. A. 
The following communications have been received :— 
1. Legends and Ballads connected with persons deified, or held in 
great veneration, in Bhagulpuir and the neighbouring districts, by Babu 
-Rashbihari Bose. 
2. List of birds, collected, or observed in the Wardha Valley and tts 
vicinity near Chanda, by W. T, Blanford, Esq. 
