458 Mr. Bell's Description of a 



Habitat in Africa. 



la Mus. Nost. 

 Back smooth ; tail depressed, slightly carinated^ strongly spined 

 above a7id at the sides, smooth beneath. 



Two specimens of this lizard were brought from Africa by Cap- 

 tain Lyon, R.N. 



The head is somewhat triangular, the upper part covered with 

 moderately large scales, those towards the back part slightly ele- 

 vated. The scales beneath the under jaw, and of the thorax and 

 neck, are very minute and quite smooth. 



The teeth of the upper jaw are seventeen on each side, the 

 anterior ones extremely minute, the back teeth becoming gradually 

 larger; in front of the jaw is a large perpendicular trifid process 

 of bone, which appears to serve the purpose of incisive teeth. 



The lower jaw is likewise furnished with about seventeen teeth 

 on each side, gradually encreasing in size backwards, except that 

 the two front ones are comparatively large and long, diverging 

 from each other, so as to correspond with the back surface of the 

 central process of bone in the upper jaw. 



The tongue is large, thick, and fleshy, and, like that in all 

 others of this division of the order, bifid only at the extremity. 



The eyes are rather large, and the lids covered with very small 

 scales. 



The ears are placed laterally at the back part of the head ; the 

 membrana tympani is exposed, almost superficial, and covered only 

 with cuticle. 



The whole of the back is covered with very small smooth scales ; 

 those near the tail larger and a little raised. The scales of the 

 belly, which are of larger size, are closely imbricated and polished, 

 so as to present an extremely smooth surface. 



The legs are rather long, and strongly made. The fore legs, 

 which are the shortest, are covered at the outer part with mode- 

 rately large, slightly elevated scales ; those of the inner surface 

 next the body are smaller and closer. The feet and toes are 

 scabrous beneath. The toes are nearly cylindrical, and terminated 

 by strong hooked claws. The scales covering their upper surface 

 are few in number, imbricated, and gradually larger towards the 



