new Reptilia from Mashonalaad. 



49 



sliield extending to the oral border, a pair of postErontals and 

 a j)air of parietals, both broader than long, and four small 

 square shields between them and the oral border ; four lower 

 labials, first very large and forming a short suture with its 

 fellow behind the point of the elongate symphysial. 246 

 annuli on the body and 24 on the tail ; in the middle of the 

 body an annulus contains 24 segments, 12 above and 12 

 below the lateral lines ; dorsal and lateral segments a little 

 longer than broad, the two median ventrals about twice as 

 broad as long. Lateral line moderately distinct. Anal 

 segments scarcely enlarged. End of tail rounded. Flesh- 

 coloured, tinged with purplish. 



Chirindia Swynnertuni. 



Total length 135 mm.; diameter of body 3; length of 

 tail 14. 



A single specimen of this remarkable Amphlsbainid worm- 

 like lizard was obtained. In the fusion of the ocular witli 

 the large paired shield which covers the whole of the snout, in 

 addition to the small azygous rostral, Chirindia resembles 

 Placogaster, Blgr. , the unique species of which inhabits 

 Senegambia ; but it is at once distinguished from that genus 

 by the paired ventral shields and the absence of prteanal 

 pores. Chirindia is certainly, with Placogaster, the most 

 remarkable type of Amphisbsenid discovered within the last 

 twenty-five years. 



Ann. & Mag. .V. ///,s7. Ser. 7. Vol. xx. 



