AND BATEACHIANS OF BARBARY. 135 



Fam. 7. SCINCIDtE. 

 This large and cosmopolitan family is represented in Barbary by four genera, 

 distinguishable as follows : — 



A. Palatine bones in contact on the median line of the palate ; nostril in a 



single nasal 1. Mabuia. 



B. Palatine bones separated on the median line. 



a. Rostral not entering the nostril. 



Nostril pierced in the nasal ; digits not denticulated laterally 2. Eumeces. 



Nostril between an upper and a lower nasal ; digits denticulated laterally ... 3. Scincus. 



b. Nostril pierced between the rostral and a very small nasal, in an emargina- 



tion of the former shield 4. Chalcides. 



The genus Ophiomoruis, Bibron, is erased from this fauna for reasons stated above, 

 p. 120. 



1. MAiiuiA, Fitzinger, 1826. 



Palatine bones in contact mesially. Eyelids movable. Nostril pierced in a single 

 nasal ; supranasals present ; prsefrontals and frontoparietals present. Limbs well 

 developed, pentudactyle ; digits subcylindrical or compressed. 



A single species in Barbary. 



1. Mabuia vittata, Olivier, 1804. 



Lower eyelid with an undivided transparent disk. Normally no postnasal ; parietals 

 usually in contact behind the interparietal. Ear-opening oval, about as large as a lateral 

 scale, with two or three pointed lobules, one of which usually is long. Nuchal and 

 dorsal scales strongly tricarinate ; -32 or 34 scales round the middle of the body, dorsals 

 a little larger than laterals or ventrals. The adpressed limbs meet or slightly overlap, 

 or fail to meet. Olive or brown above, with a more or less distinct lighter vertebral 

 stripe ; and two narrow whitish lines on each side, the lower commencing below the 

 eye and passing through the ear ; these light streaks may be edged with black lines or 

 bands ; lower parts yellowish or greenish white. 



From snout to vent 75 millim., tail 105. 



Strauch records this Scink from the Mzab, and Lallemant adds the Souf. M. Lataste 

 received specimens from the plateaux of the Province of Constantine and collected 

 two specimens at Biskra. He also found it in Tunisia, at the Oasis of Tozeur, 

 and in abundance at Cabes. The range of M. vittata extends eastwards to Egypt 

 and Syria. 



Figures: Olivier, Voy. Emp. Othom. pi. xxix. fig. 1 ; Savigny, Descr. Egypte, Eept., 

 Suppl. pi. ii. figs. 5 & 6. 



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