ACANTHODACTYLUS CAPENSIS. 



second third of the tail, being edged both above and below by a distinct 

 shade of liver-brown, which is most distinct on the tail, and extends much 

 beyond the end of the light line. Below the red of the sides there is a 

 second longitudinal yellowish white line which extends between the meatus 

 auditorius cxtemus and the base of hinder leg. Belly, throat, and under 

 surface of legs ochre-yellow ; the sides of the belly below the second light 

 line closely mottled with liver-brown. Upper surface of extremities liver- 

 brown with many spots of the colour of the back ; toes and claws transparent 

 brownish yellow, the former above, speckled with umber-brown. Temples 

 the same colour as the sides of the body ; the remainder of the sides of the 

 head umber-brown. 



Form, &c. — Figure of male rather slender, the body and base of tail 



slightly depressed, and the latter moderately long and tapered to a very fine 



ooint : the female is rather robust, and each individual part is on a larger 



scale than in the male. Head quadrangular, superiorly, towards the nose 



gently sloped, towards the nape level. Frontal plate narrow and widest 



anteriorly ; fronto- parietal plates five-sided, the side which joins frontal 



plate very short. Inter-parietal plate somewhat quadrangular and widest 



behind ; interfronto-parietal plate diamond-shaped, and a portion of it 



between the anterio-internal angles of the parietal plates. Naso-rostral 



plate large and behind pointed, the point lying between the fronto-nasal 



plates. Palpebral plates two, forming an oval disc which anteriorly and 



posteriorly is edged with scales, one of which, over and in front of the eye is 



rather large. Temples slightly convex, and covered with small granular 



scales. Meatus auditorius exlernus semilunar and margined anteriorly with a 



few small spinous scales. Skin of body rather loosely connected to the 



subjacent parts, and often forms a longitudinal fold on each side of the body, 



extending from the ears to the hinder leg, also occasionally a circular one 



behind the head, the loose edge of which is directed forwards. Scales 



covering back and sides small, circular, closely set, and slightly convex ; 



those on base of tail superiorly the same, on sides of tail towards its base 



triangular and keeled, each keel prolonged and ending in a spinous point. 



About an inch beyond the commencement of the tail the small scales give 



place to oblong and quadrangular ones, which are arranged in whorls, and 



each has a distinct keel, which in some parts is prolonged beyond the scale 



in the form of a spinous point. Scales of the extremities partly rather large, 



triangular, and keeled, partly very small and granular. Abdominal plates 



quadrangular and disposed in transverse rows, about twenty-eight in each. 



Gular collar immediately in front of sternum distinctly indicated, the 



