2480 SCALED REPTILES 



by the aperture of the ear being larger than the eye, by the fifth toe being as long 

 as the first, and the third slightly longer than the fourth, as well as by the scales, 

 on the abdomen being keeled. Both sexes have a low crest on the nape of the neck , 

 whereby the species is distinguished from most of its South- African congeners; 

 while the males have two rows of twelve thickened horny scales in front of the 

 vent. Although variable, this handsome lizard is strikingly colored. Generally 

 the upper parts are olive brown, with the enlarged scales lighter; and there is a 

 double series of darker blotches along the back, the under surface being lighter, 

 and the throat marked with dark longitudinal streaks. Known to the natives of 

 Mozambique by the name of toque, this species appears to feed chiefly on beetles, 

 grasshoppers, and ants. 



Very different in general appearance to the last species is the spi- 

 a nose agama (A. colonorum} of West Africa, which is a rather large 

 form, and said to be the most common reptile met with on the Gold Coast. It dif- 

 fers from the preceding species by the shields on the back being of uniform size and 

 furnished with spines, as well as in the absence of a crest. The body is not much 

 depressed, and the sides of the head near the ear, as well as of the neck, are orna- 

 mented with radiating groups of short spines, which are at least equal to two -thirds 

 the diameter of the ear opening. From an allied species (A. rueppelli} it may be 

 distinguished by the scales on the back v being very numerous, and considerably 

 larger than those on the tail, the latter being strongly keeled and arranged in fairly- 

 distinct rings. Attaining a length of rather more than thirteen inches, this species 

 is noticeable for its brilliant coloration in the living state, although the hues rapidly 

 fade away after death. When alive, the head is flame red, the throat spotted with 

 yellow, and the body and limbs a deep steel blue, while along the middle of the 

 back there is generally a whitish line. The lower surface of the basal half of the 

 tail is yellowish, the corresponding upper portion steely blue, as is the tip, while 

 the remainder is red. Very old specimens have, however, both surfaces of the base 

 of the tail blue, the remainder of the upper surface, except a small blue tip, being 

 red. Females are at all ages, much more soberly colored. In some spots these 

 agamas are found in swarms, being very fond of climbing up the mud walls and 

 mat roofs of the native huts, at times basking motionless in the sun, and at others 

 running rapidly about in search of insects. When approached by a human being, 

 they raise and depress their heads in a series of nods, which increase in rapidity as 

 the intruder draws near, till, finally, the creatures lose courage and disappear, with 

 the speed of lightning, into some crack or cranny. So brilliant do these gorgeously- 

 colored lizards appear, when basking in the midday rays of an African sun, that the 

 observer is fain to believe he is gazing on some splendid insect rather than a 

 reptile. 



Belonging to a group of the genus distinguished from the one con- 

 \ taining the species described above by the absence of enlargement of 



the occipital scale of the head, the rough-tailed agama (A. stellio}, de- 

 picted in the illustration on p. 2464, is interesting as being one of the two members 

 of the genus whose range extends into Southeastern Europe. Whereas, however, 

 the other members of the group have the tail more or less ringed, the rough-tailed 



