PHYLLURUS PLATURUS. 303 



. Phyllurus, Cuv. Regn. Anim. II, 1817, 50; 2d ed. II, 1829, 58; &, ed. illustr. 

 Kept. 81. FITZ. Syst. Kept. 1843, 92. GRAY, Catal. Lizz. Brit. Mus. 1845, 176. 



OBSERV. This genus is not generally admitted by naturalists, who 

 combine its species with Gymnodactylus. The configuration of the 

 tail was taken as its chief distinguishing feature by Cuvier, who pro- 

 posed it. There are other traits now to be adduced in favor of retain- 

 ing it in the system, and accordingly, we think it ought to be rein- 

 stated. 



PHYLLURUS PLATURUS, Cuv. 



SPEC. CHAR. Nostrils lateral, not contiguous with either the rostral 

 or labial plates. Two small supero-nasal plates : the anterior one 

 contiguous to the rostral. Internasal space covered with small, 

 granular, subhexagonal plates. Upper surface of head granular 

 and tubei'cular ; under surface of head minutely granular. Tail 

 smooth beneath, with small, subhexagonal scales. Olivaceous- 

 brown, lighter beneath than above. 



SY.\. Lacerta platura, SHAW, in White's Journ. Voy. to N. S. Wales, 1790, 246. 

 PI. xxxni, fig. 2; Nat. Miscell. II, 1791. PI. LXV; &, Gen. Zool. Ill, 1802, 247. 



Stellio phyllurus, SCHN. Amphib. Physiol. Spec. II, 1790, 31. 



StelUo platurus, BAUD. Hist. Kept. IV, 1802, 24. 



Agama platyura, MERR. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 51. 



Agama discositra, MERE. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 51. 



Phyllurus platurus, Cuv. Regn. Anim. 2d ed. II, 1829, 58; &, ed. illuatr. Kept. 81. 

 PI. xx bis, fig. 2. GUER. Iconogr. Regn. Anim. I, 1834. PI. xiv, fig. 1. GRIFF. 

 Cuv. Anim. Kingd. IX, 1831, 151. FITZ. Syst. Rept. 1843, 92. GRAY, Catal. Lizz. 

 Brit. Mus. 1845, 176. 



Gymnodaclylus platurus, WAGL. Naturl. Syst. Amph. 1830, 144. 



Cyrtodactylus platurus, GRAY, Synops. Rept. in Griff. Anim. Kingd. IX, 1831, 52. 



Gecko platicaudus, SCHINZ. Xaturg. Abbild. Rept. 1833, 75. Tab. xvu. 



Gymnodactylus phyllurus, DUM. & BIBB. Erpet. gen. Ill, 1836,428. Journ. Navig. 

 Thetis & Esper. 1837, PL XLIH. 



Phyllurus cuvieri, BORY, Diet. Class, d'hist. nat. VII, 1825, 183 (fig.). 



Lezard discosure, LACEP. Ann. Mus. d'hist. nat. IV, 1804, 191. 



OBSERV. This species, owing to its uncommon aspect, has often 

 attracted the attention of naturalists and iconographists, so that we 

 may say that it is pretty generally well known. It is well repre- 



