140 THE REPTILES OF EGYPT. 
external to them, and there are from 3 to 6 such rows. The distance between the 
lower anterior border of the nostril to the end of the snout equals the distance between 
the former point and the posterior angle of the eye. Canthus rostralis, sharp and well 
defined, and the top of the head from the posterior border of the orbit forwards 
elongately triangular. The anterior border of the eye to the snout equals the distance 
between the aforementioned point and the upper border of the ear. The third 
finger is longer than the fourth, the reverse of what occurs in V. griseus, but the 
same as prevails in V. ocellatus. Seventy to seventy-five transverse rows of scales. 
Tail round at the base, but the remainder more or less compressed, with a double- 
edged dorsal ridge. The colour is uniform olive-yellow above, with some yellow spots 
on the back, somewhat transverse in position, but obscure." 
This specimen has been fully described by Prof. Boettger in bis Catalogue ; but I 
am indebted to him for some further particulars regarding the types of V. ocellatus 
and V. micwstictus. 
In the British Museum there is a Varcmus from Kordofan presented by Dr. Riippell, 
besides the specimen from the Anseba valley, Abyssinia, obtained by Mr. Blantord. 
These two lizards are unquestionably specifically identical. The first is a stuffed 
specimen, whilst the latter is preserved in alcohol. Both have exactly the same kind 
of scales. Those on the forehead and front of the snout are large, and the scales on 
the back of the neck are considerably larger than any of the other scales of the body. 
The ventrals are large. The digits are short and stout. The tail is compressed, with a 
double-edged dorsal ridge. In the case of the stuffed Kordofan specimen the nostril 
is a little nearer the end of the snout than in the Abyssinian specimen in alcohol, 
but this is due to the shrivelling up of the fleshy end of the snout. In the latter the 
nostril is about twice as distant from the end of the snout as it is from the eye, and in 
the former about li times. This is the only point in which they are not perfectly 
alike, but I believe it to be satisfactorily explained by the difference in the methods 
of their preservation. Both conform to Heyden's description of V. ocellatus and to 
Prof. Boettger's account of V. microstictus. 
Vakanus niloticus, Hasselq. & Linn. (Plate XVIII.) 
Le Monitor du Nil ou Ouarau, Cuv. Reg. An. ii. 1817, p. 25. 
Le Monitor du Congo, Cuv. 1. c. p. 25. 
Lacerta nilotica, Hasselq. & Linn. Iter Palaest. 1757, p. 311 ; Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 1766, p. 3G9 ; 
Forska.1, Descr. An. 1775, p. 13. 
Lacerta capensis, Sparrmann, Resa Goda Hop. 1783, p. 749. 
Scincus niloticus, Schn. Hist. Amph. ii. 1801, p. 195. 
Tupinambis elegans, part., Daud. Rept. iii. 1803, p. 36. 
Tupinambis steltatus, Daud. 1. c. p. 59, pi. xxxi. 
Tupinamhis niloticus, part., Daud. 1. c. p. 51 ; Is. Geoff. St.-Hil. Descr. de l'Egypte, Hist. Nat. 
?1827, p. 121, pi. 8. fig. 1. 
