STENODACTrLUS ELEGANS. 43 
Under surface of the digits with a longitudinal line of transverse, tricarinate, subimbri- 
cate lamellae, with a single row of small scales external to it ; four to six rows of scales 
on the upper surface of the digits (3rd toe), the scales of the external row sharply 
pointed, projecting outwards, and forming a dentated border to the digits. Scales on 
the tail arranged in rings, largest on the dorsal surface, somewhat longer than broad, 
juxtaposed, and smooth, those on the under surface smaller. Limbs well developed, 
very variable in length, fore limb extending to or reaching beyond the snout, or falling 
short of it ; the hind limb generally reaches to the axilla, may fall short of it, or may 
touch the shoulder ; digits variable, longer and stouter in some than in others. Tail 
thick, not contracted behind the base, elongately conical, gradually tapered to a not 
very fine point, shorter than the body and head. 
Colour variable, frequently fawn or rich buff, reticulated with purplish brown, 
varying in tint, the reticulations enclosing whitish or yellow spots ; in others the upper 
surface is an almost uniform purplish brown, with feebly indicated darker reticulations, 
sometimes almost wholly lost, embracing small whitish or yellowish round spots, 
numerous in some, nearly absent in others ; the body may also be covered with five 
broad purplish-brown more or less white-spotted bands, separated from each other by 
reticulated areas, the sides and limbs being white-spotted ; a dark band, more or less 
present in many, passes from eye to eye round the occiput ; the dorsal bands in others 
become broken up into large purplish-brown spots surrounded by reticulations and 
white spots ; generally 8 to 10 purplish-brown bands on the tail, separated from each 
other by a large white black-margined spot, these spots becoming white bars towards 
the tip of the tail, but in some these white spots are entirely obsolete. Under surface 
of the body and limbs whitish, of the tail yellowish. The eyelid, anteriorly, has a rich 
white margin ; the rugged and jagged sides of the pupil are bright yellow. 
The largest Egyptian specimen is a female, measuring 54 millim. from the snout to 
the vent, and the tail 40 millim. 
All the specimens of this gecko from the neighbourhood of the Pyramids of Gizeh 
were obtained on the margin of the desert, lying under stones resting on sand and 
gravel, and those from the sea-face of the delta (Ramleh and Mandara) were found 
under similar conditions but close to the sea. I never met with it running about. It 
may be said to be common at Gizeh, but less so along the sea-face. 
It has a wide range over Northern and North-eastern Africa, and extends into Asia. 
In Algeria it has been observed in many localities. I found it not uncommon at 
Suakin on the shores of the Red Sea, and I have received specimens from Durrur and 
from Ras Gharib. It has likewise recently been obtained from the banks of Lake 
Rudolf (Donaldson Smith). How far it may extend to the south, along the Nile 
valley, is unknown, but one of Hemprich and Ehrenberg's specimens (fig. 1, p. 37) came 
from Nubia, and I am indebted to Dr. Penton for examples of it from Wadi Haifa. It 
occurs on the Mediterranean coast at Yafa (Boulenger), and inland on the shores of 
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