EREMIAS LATICEPS. 



largest but nevertheless small. Vide Plate XLVIII. figs. 3 and 3 a. Scales 

 of the back and sides small, subrhomboidal, and the centre of each slightly 

 elevated, they are disposed in oblique transverse bands, and are slightly imbri- 

 cated; scales of the under surface of the neck disposed in transverse angular 

 lines ; they are imbricate, irregularly quadrangular, and fiat towards the ante- 

 pectoral fold, the largest, posteriorly lengthened into short points ; the antepec- 

 toral fold edged posteriorly with twelve small squarish scales. The pectoral 

 plates of the first row longer and narrower than those which succeed it ; the ven- 

 tral plates in transverse rows, about sixteen or eighteen in each ; the pectoral 

 and ventral rows together thirty. Femoral pores thirteen, the innermost of the 

 one side nearly in contact with that of the other, the opening of each directed 

 obliquely outwards and backwards. Pre-anal plates numerous, and disposed 

 in six rows, the hinder plates largest. Scales of the upper and lateral parts 

 of tail keeled, of the lower parts smooth; the hinder edge of each scale 

 narrower than the anterior edge. Scales of the fore-legs partly small, flat, and 

 imbricate, partly large, the largest anteriorly, in a longitudinal row, extending 

 to the toes. The scales of the hinder legs, posteriorly and externally, small, 

 somewhat ovate and subimbricate ; below larger, triangular and imbricate, a 

 row of large shield-like plates in front; the soles of the feet rough from small 

 granular scales ; toes below with narrow, transverse, convex plates. In the 

 fore-feet, the middle toe and the one external to it longest and nearly equal, 

 the anterior one considerably the shortest, the remaining two nearly of equal 

 length. Two of the toes of each hinder foot very long; a small tubercle at 

 base of hinder toe, which is considerably removed from the other four. The 

 longest toe of the fore-foot, when the leg, &c. is placed along the side of the 

 neck, reaches to the anterior angle of the eye ; the longest of the hinder foot, 

 when the leg is placed along the side, nearly to the opening of the ear. 



Length from the point of the nose to the anus 2 unc, length of the tail 3 unc. 3 lin. 



The only three specimens of this species which I possess, were obtained towards the mouth 

 of the Orange River. At first sight this lizard might be considered as an example of Eremias 

 Namaquensis, but when closely examined the points of difference are very evident. In jE. Na- 

 maquensis the lower eyelid externally is coated with rather large plates, arranged in two rows, in 

 E. laticeps with numerous small scales ; in the former the nasal plates are contiguous, in the 

 latter they are rather widely separated ; in E. Namaquensis the scales of the body are more 

 lengthened, of an ovate form, separated from each other, and with minute scales scattered 

 between them; in E. laticeps they are imbricate, subrhomboidal, and without the small 

 intermediate scales. Besides these differences, many others are to be discovered on close exami- 

 nation. 



The only other species of the genus with which it may be confounded is E. lugubris, when 

 that species exhibits little if any of the black colour; but it may at once be distinguished from 

 it by having, in each ventral row, sixteen or eighteen instead of eight plates, as is the case in 

 E. lugubris. 



