EAST AFBIC'AN LIZARDS. 



957 



The type locality of M. plaiiifrons is Taita, Kenya Colony, and 

 that of M. diesneri is Kibvvezi, Kenya Colony, not far distant from 

 Taita. Af. diesneri ha,s also been recorded from Tabora ; my 

 Taboi-a. skink agrees with the description of M. diesneri with three 

 exceptions: (1) the first supraocular is not in coiittict with the 

 large frontal; (2) the light stripe bordering upper edge of black 

 lateral band indistinct ; (3) no light patches on back and sides. 

 The other three specimens whilst agreeing in r.lie main with 

 jW. ^^Ifiiiifroiis have some of the characters of i/. dies7ie7-i, which 

 was founded on a single small individual. The colouring of the 

 two species as given in the published descriptions appears 

 identical, whilst the dift'erences in scalation are not greater than 

 one meets with in variable skinks such as 3f. striata and M. varia. 

 I state the differences as given in the descriptions in tabular 

 form for convenience. 



2 lid 



M. planifrons. 



Scales in 28-29 rows. 



Scales with 3-5 keels. 



J'rontal in contact with 

 and 3r(l supraoculars. 



Ear-opening with 2-3 project- 

 ing lobules anteriorly. 



Adpressed hind-limb does not 

 reach the elbow. 



Olive-brown above ; two rows of 

 irregidar black spots along 

 the back. 



Light ocelli as in Chalcides 

 ocellatus. 



A l)lack lateral band beginning 

 from the eye ; on each side 

 of the back a broad lighter 

 longitudinal band. 



21. diesneri. 



Scales in 32 rows. 



Scales with 3 keels. 



Frontal in contact with 1st, 2nd, 



and 3rd supraoculars. 

 Ear-opening with 4 projecting 



lobules anteriorly. 

 Adpressed hind-limb reaches as 



far as the elbow. 

 Brown above, with long rows of 



little black spots. 



Many feebly-marked light 

 patches on back and sides. 



A deep black band runs along 

 sides of body, especially dark 

 on temples, bordered above 

 by light stripe. 



Underparts yellowiah - white, 

 sprinkled brown on sides of 

 throat. Borders of ear- 

 opening, labiiils, and i-ostrq,! 

 orange-yellow. 



I therefore propose uniting the two species by enlarging the 

 description of M. jjlanifrons to read : — 



/Scales in. 28 to 32 roics. Frontal in contact loith 2nd and Si'd 

 or 1st, 2nd, and Srd sic^jraoculars. Ear-ojjening loith 2 to 4 

 projecting lohides anteriorln. The adpressed hind-limb may or 

 may not reach as far as the elbow. 



Largest undamaged J measured 7^ inches (65-1-127), largest 

 5 12 inches (108-1-195). The latter's stomach contained afield 

 cockroach and what appeared to be the remains of a grasshopper. 



