ABLEPHAKTTS. 213 



Under the name of Euprepes halianus (Nevill, Taprobanian, ii, 

 1887, p. 56), a Scink has been described which probably belongs 

 to the genus Lygosoma. Its characters are given as follows : 



" A pair of very narrow supranasal shields ; the single praofron- 

 tal touches both rostral and vertical [frontal]. The fifth upper 

 labial is below the eye, a little longer than high. Ear-opening 

 small, with no lobules. Lower eyelid scaly. Scales with four very 

 weak keels anteriorly, becoming strong posteriorly, reduced to three 

 on the tail, in 30 or 31 longitudinal series between the limbs, and 

 24 transverse series *. Pra?anal scales not enlarged ; subcaudals 

 rather longer than the others. Limbs of moderate strength. 

 Third toe nearly as long as fourth. White, back with ten black 

 bands one on the nape, one between the fore limbs, three on the 

 back, one between the hind limbs, and four on the tail with remains 

 of a fifth. Black bands run from the nostril through the eyes, 

 which are connected by a band across the occiput ; this band throws 

 forward a band each side of the vertical." 



Hab. Hot and dry districts of Ceylon. 



Genus ABLEPHARUS, 



Fitzinger, Verb. Ges. Naturf. Fr. i, 1824, p. 297. 



Palatine and pterygoid bones in contact mesially, the palatal 

 notch not extending forwards to between the centre of the eyes ; 

 pterygoids toothless. Maxillary teeth conical. No movable eye- 

 lids; a transparent disk covering the eye. Ear distinct or hidden. 

 Nostrils pierced in the nasal; supranasal (present or) absent. 

 Limbs more or less developed. 



Distribution. Hotter parts of both hemispheres. 16 species are 

 known, two of which occur in North-western India. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Ear-opening small, but distinct A. brandtii, p. 213. 



Ear hidden A. yrayanus, p. 214. 



246. Ablepharus brandtii. 

 Ablepharus brandtii, Strauch, Mel. biol. Ac. _St. Petersb. vi, 1868, 



Blepl 

 Cat. p. 62. 



Snout short, obtuse, rostral not projecting. Eye surrounded 

 by a circle of small scales, the two upper of which are much larger 

 than the others. Rostral largely in contact with the frontonasal, 



* Is not " longitudinal " a lapsus for " transverse " and vice versa ? 



