CHALCIDES DELISLII. 223 
Chalcides delislii, Lataste. (Plate XXVIII. fig. 3.) 
Allodactylus de VIslei, Lataste, Journ. Zool. v. 1876, p. 238, pi. x. 
Chalcides delislii, Blgr. Cat. Liz. B. M. iii. 1887, p. 407. 
Chalcides (Spluenops) delislii, Anderson, Herpet. Arabia & Egypt, 1896, p. 105. 
3. Plain of Suakin. Surgeon-Captain R. H. Penton, D.S.O. 
7. Plain of Suakin. 
3, Durrur. Major-General A. Hunter, D.S.O. 
20. Durrur. 
This species resembles C. sepoides, but differs from it in having its ear slightly 
further away from the angle of the mouth, and by the absence of a fringe of pointed 
scales over it, the orifice being covered by ordinary scales which, however, leave 
it more or less visible. Its limbs are weak, like those of C. sepoides, but the fore 
foot is tridactyle and the hind foot tetradactyle. There is no postnasal and the 
supranasals are distinct. Seven upper labials are present, but, as in the foregoing 
species, the fourth is under the eye. It has generally 24 smooth scales round the 
body, but sometimes there may be only 22 and in others 26. 
The largest specimen measures 94 mm. from snout to vent (tail imperfect); fore 
limb 6 - 7 mm., hind limb 15 mm. A perfect specimen, with a total length of 84 mm., 
has the tail 70 mm. long ; fore limb 6 - 5, hind limb 14. 
It is common among loose sand on the maritime plain at Suakin and at Durrur. 
It is more closely allied, however, to C. sphenopsiformis than to C. sepoides, but differs 
from the former by having a longer fore limb, tridactyle instead of didactyle ; in all 
other respects the two are identical. 
Each of the 33 specimens has 3 digits on the fore foot and 4 on the hind foot, and 
there are only two exceptions to 24 scales round the body, one having 22 and the 
other 26, both specimens being from Durrur. Seven upper and lower labials are 
present in all but one, which has 6 above and 6 below, and there is only one exception 
to the rule that the fourth upper labial is below the orbit, and in this instance the 
third labial occupies that position. 
In three specimens of C. sphenopsiformis in the British Museum each has 2 digits 
anteriorly and 4 posteriorly, and 24 rows of scales round the body. There are 7 upper 
labials in each, but only 6 lower labials, and, in all, the fourth labial is below the eye. 
Each has a postnasal over the first labial. 
The type specimen of C. delislii was said to have been brought from Japan by 
M. Savatier, a ship captain. It formed part of the collection of the father of Professor 
A. Tremeau-Rochebrune, in whose collection it stood under the name of Seps chalcides. 
As the genus Chalcides is unknown in Japan, Mr. Boulenger has suggested that the 
