716 



AFKK'AN KKPTILlvS AND BATliACHIAXS STE.INECiKR. 



(iiiiatc expinisioii. However, in view ol' the fact tliat tlie jjfeiius Phifl- 

 l(Kit(cti/liis, \\\\'n-\i uiiquestionalily is closely allied, has a similar and 

 even wider distribution, the present extension of the range of 

 I>i}}lo((acfyli(.s can not Ix' considered particularly abnormal, while the 

 discovery of a species of the nearly related Australian genus Ocilura 

 in southwestern Africa a few years ago {Oednra africana Boulenger, 

 Ann. ]\rag. N. II. ((I) ii, Aug. 1888, p. 1:58) is even more startling. 



Phel-uma abbotti, sp. nov. 



DiAONOsrs. — Nostrils pierced above the lirst ui)i)er labial only; ven- 

 tral scales smooth ; snout not twice as long as the distaiu-e between orbit 

 and ear-opening; chin shields much larger than adjoining gular scales; 

 tail not much depressed, narrower than the body; 3-1 femoro-preanal 

 pores altogether; segments of tail not very distinct, composed of six 

 transverse rows of scales on the side as well as on the ui)per surface. 



HAniTAT. — Aldabra Island. 



Type.— Ik S. National Museum No. 2()4(i7; Dr. W. L. Abbott coll. 



Desrriptioti. — Snout once and two-thirds as long as the distance 

 between the eye and the ear-opening, twice the diameter of the orbit; 

 upper part of rostral with a median cleft; nostril pierced above and 

 ))ordered beneath by the tirst supralabial: su])ralabials seven to eight; 

 infralabials seven; chin shields four on each side, gradually decreasing 

 in size, inner pair about four tinn^s as large as outer; one to three 

 scales between the naso-rostrals; ear-oi)ening small, its vertical diam- 

 eter not half that of the orlut; dorsal scales small, keeled from the 

 head; ventral scales smooth; femoral ])ores thirty-three altogether; 

 tail not very much dei)ressed. liarrower than the body; segments of tail 

 rather indistinct, composed each of six transverse rows of rather large, 

 tiat scales both on sides and up})er surface; lower surface of tail (when 

 intact) with a median series of transversely dilated scales, two nar- 

 rower ones alternating with a wider one. Coh)r (in alcohol) dark oli\e 

 slate above, on the sides gradually passing into the whitish of the under 

 surface; a black line from nostrils through eye to neck; supralabials 

 and a broad baiul backwaid to over the ear-opening whitish; sides and 

 ui)per surface of limits coarsely marbh'd with blackish. 



Mcaxitremenifi {in millimtteni). 



U. S. National Miisenin number. 



T.ttal length 

 lilt of siiiiut 

 Widtli .)f lie; 

 I'on- linili to 

 UiiKl liiiilHo 

 Tail (iiitatti 



1 1> ear 



xl at ears 



tip of louy:est tinker 



ti]) of longest loe j 23. 



