13 



ANNOTATIONS 



- note the emendated ending -i 



2 



- Although the Errata slip indicates Tareutola Bibroni (one -i) should correctly be spelled 



Bibronii (-ii), the original header of page (103) and the caption to plate 50 both show the 

 spelling -ii. Note that figure 1 is the lower of the two. 



^ - Wermuth (1967: 29) and Cogger (1983: 1 1 1) both followed Boulenger (1885: 389) in 

 referring this taxon to the synonymy of Amphibolurus anguUfer (Gray), or rather 

 Tympanocryptis diemensis (Gray), an Australian taxon, said to be based on syntypes 

 BMNH RR 1946,9.4.33-34 (Cogger I.e.). This seems to correspond with the fact that this 

 species account and plate were issued in the same part as the one on De/ma grayii, another 

 Australian reptile. It is interesting, however, that on page (168) Smith states: "The only 

 specimens [note plural!] of this species which I have seen were obtained towards the tropic 

 of Capricorn. It inhabits dry, arid situations, is very watchful, and when approached 

 attempts by gestures, particularly of its head, to stay the advance of the intruder, but failing 

 that it takes to flight, and conceals itself as best as it can. ..." From this, one might assume 

 that either Smith combined his observations made on a South African agamid lizard with 

 the morphological description of an Australian one, or that by some mix-up of specimens 

 the plate and/or description do not really refer to the one or the other The mentioned 

 syntypes should be re-examined and carefiilly compared with Smith's description and 

 plate. 



- misidentified 



-on page(179) Smith states: '^'This reptile was given to me as an inhabitant of the interior 

 of Southern Africa, but whether it is so or not I cannot pretend to decide, as I never obtained 

 a specimen in any part of the country over which I travelled. The only other species of the 

 group yet known, the type of the genus Delma of Mr. Gray, is known to be a native of 

 Western Australia, therefore it is probable the present is also from that country. ..." 



- This could in fact be Mabuya bibronii (Gray, 1838), a taxon native to India, despite 

 Smith stating on page A-1 1 : "" Found, not abundantly, in different districts of Southern 

 Africa.". The Appendix appears to be based upon the collection of preserved specimens in 

 British Museum, and there is a possibility that locality data has been confused. 



7 



- This could in fact be Mabuya gravenhorstii (Dumeril &. Bibron, 1839), a Malagasy 

 species, although Smith states on page A-1 1 : ''This species occurs in Southern Africa, but 

 specimens are rarely obtained, and I am not able to specify the particular locality in which 

 they are to be procured." . Compare footnote 6. 



8 



- according to a handwritten note by V.F.M. FitzSimons in the copy examined 



9 



- likely to be a lapsus calami for subtessellatus 



