THE AFGHAN DELIMITATION COMMISSION. 97 



10. Phrynocephalus ornatus. (Plate VIII. fig. 3.) 



Phrynocephalus ornatus, Boulenger, Cat. Liz. iii. p. 496. 



12 specimens. Nushki to Helmand. 

 2 specimens. Helmand. 



Forehead convex and slightly sloping, with scarcely enlarged keeled scales ; occipitals 

 very feebly enlarged ; supraocular scales a little smaller than median dorsals, imbricate, 

 feebly keeled ; nostril directed forwards and upwards ; nasals very large and in contact 

 mesially. Dorsal scales homogeneous, small and granular on the sides, enlarged, flat, 

 imbricate, and feebly keeled on the back. Gular, pectoral, and ventral scales smooth or 

 indistinctly keeled. Scales on upper surface of limbs feebly keeled. Digital fingers 

 moderately developed, stronger on the outer side of the fourth toe than on the inner. 

 Tibia much longer than the skull. The hind limb reaches beyond the snout. Tail 

 nearly twice as long as the distance from gular fold to vent, strongly depressed at the 

 base, roundish- depressed through the greater part of its length; except on the basal 

 portion of the tail, the scales are keeled. Yellowish or yellowish grey above, with small 

 grey or blackish specks and symmetrical markings ; usually a few rose-coloured, purple- 

 edged spots on the anterior part of the back and smaller orange ones on the hinder part ; 

 head with one or two orange transverse markings ; usually a blackish or purplish-grey, 

 straight-edged or festooned lateral band, which may be edged above with a yellowish- 

 white band ; a grey band along the hinder side of the thighs. Tail sometimes with 

 regular elliptical brown or orange spots, above separated by a yellowish-white chain. 

 Lower surfaces white ; tail usually lemon-yellow, constantly with four or five black spots. 



millim. millim. 



Total length 92 Pore limb 21 



Head 9 Hind limb 37 



Width of head .... 9 Tail 53 



Body 30 



This new Lizard is allied to P. ccmdivolvulus (Pall.), from which it is easily distinguished, 

 besides other points, by having the nasals in contact. 



[This beautifully coloured small species was very common between Nushki and the 

 Helmand, and along the Helmand on the gravel plains, and always near bushes, to the 

 roots of which it ran for shelter. It was very difficult to catch. — J. E. T. A.] 



11. Phrynocephalus maculatus, And. (Plate IX. fig. 3.) 



Phrynocephalus maculatus, Blanford, torn. cit. p. 331 ; Boulenger, op. cit. i. p. 377. 



[This species was met with on the great gravel plains between Nushki and the Helm- 

 and, on the more exposed parts, where there were neither bushes nor stones. They hid 

 by lying flat pressed upon the small gravel and sand, hoping from their coloration to 

 evade detection. — J. E. T. A.] 



