15. SCAPTEIRA. 109 



1. Scapteira knoxii. 



Eremias knoxii, part., Gray, Cat. p. 40, 

 Lacerta knoxii, M.-Edw. Ajih. Sc. Nat. xvi. 182U, pp. 76, 85, pi. vi. 



fig. (i. 

 Merules knoxii, Graj/, Ann. N. II. i. 1838, p. 282. 

 Eremias kuo.^di, Dum. ^- Bibr. v. p. 291) ; iSmith, III. S. Afr., Rept, 



pi. xliii. fig. I, and pi. xlviii. fig. 1. 

 ? Acantlioclact}lii3 nilgherrensis, Jerdon, Jown. As. Soc. Beng. xxi. 



1853, p. 47ti, and P)-oc. As. Soc. Bcny. 1870, p. 79. 

 Eremias fordii, Giinth. Ann. l^- May. N. II. (4) ix. 1872, p. 381. 



Head rather short ; snout obtuse. Nasals feebly swollen, lower 

 forming a suture with the rostral ; frontonasal (sometimes longi- 

 tudinally divided) separated from the rostral ; usually one or two 

 small azygos scales between the proefrontals ; frontal grooved 

 anteriorly ; three or four supraoculars, first small and in contact 

 with the loreal, sometimes broken up into several small scales, 

 fourth very small, if present ; a series of granules between the 

 principal supraoculars and the supraciliaries ; interparietal penta- 

 gonal or rhomboidal, usually in contact with a small occipital ; a 

 baud-like shield borders the parietals externally ; temporal scales 

 granular, not, or but very obtusely, keeled; anterior border of ear 

 denticulated ; subocular not reaching the lip, resting on the fifth, 

 sixth, and seventh upper labials ; the first pair or first two pairs of 

 chin-shields in contact, the third, or second and third, separated 

 by granules. Collar curved, perfectly free, with 7 to 9 plates. 

 Dorsal scales hexagonal or rhomboidal, keeled, larger, slightly 

 imbricate, and strongly keeled on the posterior part of the back. 

 42 to 60 scales across the middle of the body. Ventral plates in 

 straight longitudinal and transverse series ; 12 or 14 longitudinal 

 series, the outer very small ; the two median series not broader 

 than long, the others a little broader than long ; 28 to 32 trans- 

 verse series. Praeanals usually subequal, the median posterior 

 sometimes more enlarged. The adpressed hind limb reaches between 

 the shoulder and the ear ; foot as long as, or a little longer than, the 

 distance between the arm and the anterior border of the orbit ; 

 digits subcylindrical, strongly keeled interiorly, feebly fringed 

 laterally ; a series of large, and two of small, subtibial plates. 14 

 to 20 femoral pores. Tail nearly twice as long as head and 

 body ; caudal scales strongly keeled, except the basal subcaudals, 

 which are obtusely keeled. Yellowish brown or olive above, with 

 longitudinal series of whitish, black-edged oceDi or blackish spots 

 usually confluent into four longitudinal bauds, with or without 

 round whitish spots ; limbs with light ocelli ; young with light 

 and dark bands, the vertebral light band bifurcate on the nape, 

 and series of round light spots along the dark ones ; lower surfaces 

 white. 



