396 sciNciD.E. 



the frontal, which is nearly as broad as long ; praefrontals moderately 

 large, widely separated, larger than any of the supraoculars ; latter 

 four, second largest, tirst in contact with the pra^frontal and 

 descending to the sii])raciliary edge ; two supraciliaries, behind the 

 iirst supraocular ; interparietal broader than long, shorter than the 

 frontal ; frontoparietals much smaller than the pra'frontals ; parietals 

 band-like, narrow : no nuchals; tilth upper labial the largest, tifth 

 and sixth below the eye. Ear hidden. Two azygos postmentals. 

 Body anguiform, with two pairs of very short limbs, the anterior 

 tetradactyle, the posterior tridactyle ; the length of the hind limb 

 about one fifth of the length from the thigh to the shoulder. 22 

 scales round the body, equal in size. Colour pale brownish grey, 

 with longitudinal dark lines ; of these there are two narrow ones in 

 the centre of the back and tail extending on to the head-shields, 

 and a much broader band from the nostril, through the eye, 

 extending down the upper part of each side above the limbs and 

 dividing into two lines on the tail. 



millim. 



Prom snout to vent 100 



Head (apparently to extremity of 



interparietals) &5 



Fore limb 7 



Hind limb 12-5 



Southern Persia. 



Ophiomorus persicus. 



Heniipodium persicum, Steimlachi. Sitzh. Ak. Wein, Iv. i. 1867, 

 p. 205, pi. i. 



Snout obtuse, the rostral scarcely projecting beyond the lip. 

 Nostril nearer the rostral than the anterior loreal ; two loreals, an- 

 terior largest and in contact with the second and third upper labials ; 

 frontonasal rather small, not half the length of the frontal, which is 

 as long as broad ; prsefrontals small, widely separated, nearly as 

 large as the second supraocular: four supraoculars, scccmd largest, 

 first descending to the siipraciliary edge : two supraciliaries, anterior 

 lai'gest, behind the first sujtraocuhir ; interparietal a little broader 

 than long and a little shorter than the frontal : frontoparietals 

 larger than the praefrontals : parietals band-like, narrow ; two or 

 three paii'S of nuchals, anterior in contact with the interparietal ; 

 fifth upper labial below the eye : ear hidden. Two azygos post- 

 mentals. Body anguiform, with two pairs of very short limbs, the 

 anterior tridactyle, the posterior didactyle. 20 scales round the 

 body, the dorsals largest. Two enlarged pneanal scales. Tail a 

 little longer than head and body. Cream-coloured, each dorsal and 

 lateral scale with a brown dot, which on the sides are confluent and 

 form four or five longitudinal lines ; a brown band on each side of 

 the head, pavssing through the eye. 



