EREMIAS FORMOSA. 



with minute granular scales ; the shape of the other plates uncertain, from the 

 specimen having been injured by shot. Vide Plate XLVIII. Fig 15 and 15 a. 

 Plates of upper lip, in front of large infra-orbital plate, five, behind it two, the 

 hindermost much the smallest; plates of lower lip, not including that of chin, 

 six; freno-nasal plate quadrangular, freno-ocular large, and considerably 

 wider behind than before ; disc of lower eyelid consists of two large pellucid 

 plates. Scales of the back small, subrhomboidal, and arranged in regular 

 transverse rows, each row forming an obtuse angle at the centre of the back, 

 and each scale slightly overlapping the one immediately external to it, a& 

 well as the one directly behind it. Scales of the upper surface of the tail 

 strongly carinated, of the under surface near to the vent, thin, quadrangular, 

 and flat, towards the point laterally compressed, and forming two obtuse 

 keels, between which is a deep longitudinal furrow. Scales of the under sur- 

 face of the neck, towards the chin, small, oblong, and subovate, of the poste- 

 rior part, towards the breast, larger, somewhat triangular, and imbricate ; 

 antepectoral fold distinct, and formed of twelve small, somewhat quadrangular 

 plates, the middle ones the largest ; plates of the breast quadrangular, and 

 arranged in irregular waved transverse rows ; plates of the belly in nearly 

 straight transverse rows, ten in the longest, the middle plate smallest and 

 triangular, the others quadrangular. Preanal plates about fourteen, four in 

 the hindermost row ; femoral pores eleven or twelve. On the fore leg being 

 stretched along the side of the neck, the longest toe reaches a little beyond 

 the point of the nose ; and on the hinder one being extended along the side, 

 the longest toe touches the angle of the mouth. 



Length from the point of the nose to the vent, 1 inch 9 lines ; length of the tail, 3 inches. 



Inhabits the arid districts on the western coast of Southern Africa, more especially in the 

 neighbourhood of the Orange River. It is extremely active and very shy, consequently speci- 

 mens are procured with difficulty, and I only succeeded, even with the aid of a gun, in obtaining 

 two, both of which were much injured by the shot. 



So far as colours are concerned, this species bears considerable resemblance to Eremias 

 Knoxii and lineo-ocellata, but the scales of its back being flat and without keels, and its tail 

 below toward the point being bicarinate, furnish characters by which it is readily to be 

 distinguished from both. 



