15. scaprrrra. 109 
1. Scapteira knoxii. 
Eremias knoxii, part., Gray, Cat. p. 40. 
Lacerta kmoxii, M.-Edw. Ann. Sc. Nat, xvi. 1829, pp. 76, 85, pl. vi. 
fig. 6. 
Meroles knoxii, Gray, Ann, N. H. i. 1888, p. 282. 
Eremias lmoxii, Dum. §& Bibr. v. p. 299; Smith, Ill. 8. Afr., Rept. 
pl. xliii. fig. 1, and pl. xlviii. fig. 1. 
P Acanthodactylus nilgherrensis, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxi. 
1853, p. 476, and Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 1870, p. 79. 
Eremias fordii, Giinth, Ann. § Mag. N. H. (4) ix. 1872, p. 881. 
Head rather short ; snout obtuse: Nasals feebly swollen, lower 
forming a suture with the rostral; frontonasal (sometimes longi- 
tudinally divided) separated from the rostral ; usually one or two 
small azygos scales between the prefrontals ; frontal grooved 
anteriorly ; three or four supraoculars, first small and in contact 
with the loreal, sometimes broken up into several small scales, 
- fourth very small, if present; a series of granules between the 
principal supraoculars and the supraciliaries; interparietal penta- 
gonal or rhomboidal, usually in contact with a small occipital; a 
band-like shield borders the parietals externally; temporal scales 
granular, not, or but very obtusely, keeled; anterior border of ear 
denticulated ; subocular not reaching the lip, resting on the fifth, 
sixth, and seventh upper labials; the first pair or first two pairs of 
chin-shields in contact, the third, or second and third, separated 
by granules. Collar curved, perfectly free, with 7 to 9 plates, 
Dorsal scales hexagonal or rhomboidal, keeled, larger, slightly 
imbricate, and strongly keeled on the posterior part of the back. 
42 to 60 scales across the middle of the body. Ventral plates in 
straight longitudinal and transverse series ; 12 or 14 longitudinal 
series, the outer very small; the two median series not broader 
than long, the others a little broader than long; 28 to 32 trans- 
verse series. Preanals usually subequal, the median posterior 
sometimes more enlarged. The adpressed hind limb reaches between 
the shoulder and the ear ; foot as long as, or a little longer than, the 
distance between the arm and the anterior border of the orbit; 
digits subcylindrical, strongly keeled inferiorly, feebly fringed 
laterally ; a series of large, and two of small, subtibial plates. 14 
to 20 femoral pores. Tail nearly twice as long as head and 
body; caudal scales strongly keeled, except the basal subcaudals, 
which are obtusely keeled. Yellowish brown or olive above, with 
longitudinal series of whitish, black-edged ocelli or blackish spots 
usually confluent into four longitudinal bands, with or without 
round whitish spots; limbs with light ocelli; young with light 
and dark bands, the vertebral light band bifurcate on the nape, 
and series of round light spots along the dark ones; lower surfaces 
white. 
