OF mUTISU TERRITOIUKS IN EAST AFRICA. 857 



ii. Pterygoids hi conliict (at loast quite iintcviorly) iiiesiuUy, 

 tlio ]):iliitnl notch not extending anteriorly to between tl;e 

 centre of the eyes. 



Eyelids movable ; digits, if present, with non-retractile 



chuvs Lygosoma. 



Eyelids. iniuiovablc, transparent, covering the eye Ahlcpharus. 



II. Nostril pierced in the posterior border of the rostral, or between a nasal or a 

 labial and the rostral. 



A. Palatine bones in contact on the median line; nostril pierced 

 between the rostral and a vcrj' small nasal, which may be 

 reduced to ft narrow ring Scelotcs. 



15. I'aliilini; bones sc])aratcd on the median line ; supranasal.s 

 ))rosent ; the first upjjor labial entering nostril. 



1. Nostril ])ierced between the rostral, the supranasal, 



the postnasal, and the first labial ; no frontoparietals Sepsina. 



2. Nostril pierced between the rostral and the first labial. Melanoseps. 



III. Nostril pierced in the very large rostral, with the posterior border of which it 

 is connected by a horizontal suture. 



Lower eyelid scaly Scolecoscps. 



Jjowcr eyelid transparent Acontias. 



1. Mabuia. 



Mahuya, part., Fitzing. N. Classif. Rept. p. 23 ; Blgr. Oat. Liz. 

 iii. p. 150. 



tSi/no2)sis of the Species. 



1. Scales on the soles not spinosc. 



A. The subocular is distinguished from tlio (other) labials only by size and 

 ])osition, and is not or scarcely narrowed inferiorly. 

 a. All the dorsal scales with four or more keels. 



4 to 7 keels on dorsal scales ; 34 to 36 scales round mid- 

 body ; 5 or 6 supraciliaries comorensis. 



7 keels on dorsal scales ; 30 to 32 scales round mid-body ; 



4 to 5 supraciliaries maculilabris. 



7 to 9 keels on dorsal scales ; 30 to 32 scales round mid- 

 body ; 4 supraciliaries houlengcri, 



h. Most of the dorsal scales tricarinate {planifvons with 



5 keels on some scales). 



30 to 32 scales round mid-body; ear-opening with 2 or 



3 short obtuse lobules anteriorly, Priefrontnls form- 

 ing a short median suture hrevicolUs. 



28 to 32 scales round mid-bodj' ; ear-ojjcning with 2 or 



4 projecting lobules anteriorl}-. Prosfrontals separated 

 by truncated end of frontal, in contact with fronto- 

 nasal planifrons. 



28 to 32 scales round mid-body ; car-oiicning with 2 or 

 3 long, pointed lobules anteriorly. Parietals forming 

 a suture behind interparietal homalocephala. 



20 scales round mid-body ; ear-opening partlj- concealed 



under the rounded scales of its anterior border iaitana. 



c. Dorsal scales bicarinatc or tricarinate; 30 to 32 scales 



round mid-body ; ear-opening with 2 to 4 short, 



obtuse lobules anteriorly i quinquetaniata. 



d. Dorsal scales smooth; 24 to 26 scales round mid-body; 



car-opening overlapped anteriorly by one or more 



scales megalura. 



]}. The subocular much narrowed inferiorly, sometimes not 

 reaching the lip ; 30 to 34 scales round mid-body ; 

 car-opening with 3 to 5 long, pointed lobules anteriorly, hayonii. 



