18/2.] HIMALAYAN, AND OTHER REPTILES. 387 



rather suddenly to the tail proper, which tapers to a very fine point. 

 The tail in all the specimens is nearly the length of the head longer 

 than the body, and appears from its character to be more or less 

 prehensile, although the Museum collector informs me that he found 

 them on a grassy hill-side. 



Snout to vent 1" 10"' ; vent to tip of tail 2" 5'" ; snout to occiput 

 6'"; neck (above) 3'" ; anterior extremity 1"; posterior extremity 

 1" 7'". 



Hab. Shiraz, Persia. 



Prof. Filippi (L c.) records that he obtained many examples of 

 this species. 



Phrynocephaltjs caudivolvulus, Pallas; Gthr. Kept, of India, 

 p. 161. 



Scales granular on body and tail ; those on the lower halves of 

 the limbs slightly larger. Ventral scales scarcely larger than dorsal 

 ones. Nasals separated by an azygos scale and a longitudinal pair 

 on each side of it. Two large scales before the anterior angle of the 

 eye, followed by a row of seven smaller superciliaries. A large 

 rounded scale behind the posterior angle of the orbit, removed from 

 the superciliaries. Three or four large median plates above the 

 nasals, the vertex being occupied by plates larger than those of the 

 supraorbital region, but smaller than those on the occiput. All of 

 those scales or plates are smooth. A rather large plate on the 

 vertex between the posterior angles of the eye, with a tumid centre. 

 Upper labials 27 to 29, the one nearest the corner of the mouth the 

 largest. Lower labials 25. Twelve to thirteen teeth in the upper 

 jaw, the one posterior to the first two incisors elongated like a canine. 

 Twelve teeth in the lower jaw, the one posterior to the incisor of its 

 side canine-like. Ear hidden ; a fold below the neck and over the 

 shoulder. No anal or femoral pores. Tail slightly dilated at its 

 base, and flattened and rather thick towards its extremity ; not 

 prehensile. 



Darker or lighter olive-grey above, either with some of the gra- 

 nules paler than the others or all uniform. Dark forms reticulated 

 or spotted with blackish ; light forms feebly spotted yellowish and 

 blackish, some with rather large reddish spots, with black borders 

 on either side of the mesial line, most distinctly marked on lumbar 

 region and base of tail. Lips more or less barred or spotted with 

 blackish brown and pale yellowish. Under surface either uniform 

 yellowish greyish white with a slight median blackish band, or with 

 a broad black longitudinal area involving the whole of the throat, 

 the centre of the chest, and expanding on the belly, but not extend- 

 ing as far back as the groin. Under surface of the tail yellowish or 

 greyish white, its sides spotted with brownish almost to the degree 

 of being annulated, the posterior fourth deep black, most distinctly 

 seen on the under surface. 



The peculiar coloration of this Lizard would lead me to believe 

 that the black coloration of the belly is cither sexual or seasonal. 



