354 Lacertidx. 



coloration to such au extent as to sviggest a common derivation from 

 the same original stock. But whilst more specialized than the Eremias 

 in the laterally serrated toes and in the condition of the subocular 

 shield, it is less advanced in the degree of disintegration of the supra- 

 orbital plates and in the absence of a transparent palpebral disc. 



2. SCAPTIRA SUBOEBITALIS. 



? Lacerfa depressa, Merrem, Tent. Syst. Ampli. p. 63 (1820), and 

 Beitr. Gesch. Amph. iii, p. 106, pi. viii (1821). 



Eremias Tcnoxii, part., Gray, Cat. Liz. p. 40 (1845). 



Eremias suhorbitaUs, Petei's, ffifvers. Vet. Ak. Fiirh. 1869, p. 658 ; 

 Bouleng. Cat. Liz. iii, p. 90 (1887). 



Scapteira depressa, Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1886, p. 12 ; Bouleng. 

 t.c. p. 110; Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1887, p. 145; Werner, 

 Jen. Deukschr. xvi, 1910, p. 336 ; Bouleng. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. v, 1910, 

 p. 478 ; Methuen & Hewitt, Ann. Transv. Mus. iv, 1914, p. 140 ; 

 Hewitt & Power, Tr. E. Soc. S. Afr. iii, 1918, p. 157. 



Head and body rather strongly depressed. Head Ij to li- times as 

 long as broad, its length ^\ to 4 times in length to vent in males, 4 to 

 4|^ times in females, its depth equal to the distance between the centre 

 of the eye and the tympanum; snout short, usually pointed, sometimes 

 obtuse, nasals rather strongly swollen, as long as the postocular part 

 of the head, with a more or less distinct lanceolate concavity from the 

 frontonasal shield to the middle or the posterior end of the frontal ; 

 canthus rostralis sharp, loreal region nearly vertical, concave. Pileus 

 If to \^ times as long as broad. Neck as broad as the head or a little 

 nari'ower. The hind limb reaches the ear or the eye in males, the ear 

 or between the collar and the ear in females; foot I3 to 1|^ times as 

 long as the head; digits feebly compressed. Tail \'l to '2\ times 

 as long as head and bod\', more or less depressed at the base. 



Upper head-shields flat, smooth or a little rugose ; frontonasal as 

 long as broad or broader than long, forming a suture with the rostral ; 

 prefrontals as long as broad or a little broader than long, forming a 

 short or rather short median suture, rarely separated by an azygos 

 shield*; frontal as long as its distance from the rostral or the end of 

 the snout, 1| to 2 times as long as broad, narrow behind ; parietals as 

 long as broad or broader than long, forming a median suture behind 

 the interparietal, which is usually smaller than the frontoparietals ; 

 outer border of parietal often emarginate for the accommodation of 

 the upper temporal ; occipital very small or absent. 3 supraoculars, 

 * In 4 out of 24 specimens examined. 



