15. scrncus. 391 
3. Scincus officinalis. 
Scincus officinalis, Gray, Cat. p. 74. 
Lacerta scincus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 865. 
Scincus officinalis, Laur. Syn. Rept. p. 55; Schneid. Hist. Amph. ii. 
p. 174; Daud. Rept. iv. p. 228; Brandt § Ratzeb. Med. Zool. 
p. 166, pl. xix. figs. 2 & 3; Aud. Deser. Egypte, Rept., Supplem. 
p- 179, pl. ii. fig. 8; Wiegm. Arch. f. Nat. 1837, p. 127; Dum. & 
Bibr, v. p. 564; Duvern, R. A., Rept. pl. xxii. fig. 1; Gravenh. N. 
. Acta Ac, Leop.-Carol, xxiii, 1851, i. p. 813, pl. xxxi.; Strauch, 
. Erp. Alg. p. 41. 
Snout cuneiform, truncate, strongly projecting ; loreal region con- 
cave, canthus rostralis obtuse ; mouth inferior; nostril pierced on 
the canthus rostralis ; eye very small; ear-opening distinguishable, 
covered by two fringed scales. Rostral very large, forming a suture 
with the frontonasal or in contact with the anterior angle of the 
latter shield ; frontal more or less narrowed posteriorly ; six supra- 
oculars, anterior not in contact with the frontal; parietals shorter 
than the interparietal, followed by three to five pairs of nuchals ; 
seven to nine upper labials. Scales perfectly smooth ; dorsals usually 
not or scarcely larger than ventrals ; 26 to 28 (very rarely 30) scales 
round the middle of the body. Sides of belly angular. Digits much 
depressed and strongly toothed laterally. Yellowish or brownish 
above, each scale with small brown and whitish spots or shafts ; 
frequently with more or less marked dark transverse bands across 
the body ; lower surfaces uniform whitish. 
millim. millim, 
Total length ...... 205  —- Fore limb ........ 34 
Head isis es ece sw. 24 Hind limb........ 37 
Width of head .... 15 Mall) cesesieabtnne ees 85 
Body ......... oe. 96 ss 
Sahara and borders of the Red Sea; Syria? 
a-b, Ad. Egypt. Sir J. G. Wilkinson [P.]. 
ce, Ad. - Egypt. M. Lefebvre [P.]. 
d, Ad. Egypt. 
e. Ad. Algerian Sahara, » Canon praia Ol 
f. Ad. Algerian Sahara. J. F. Johnson, Esq. [P.]. 
4. Scincus conirostris. 
Scincus conirostris, Blanf. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1881, p. 677, fig. 1. 
Head shorter and more conical than in S. officinalis ; however, 
‘distinctly wedge-shaped and with angular labial margin ; nostril, 
eye, and ear as in the latter species. Rostral smaller, separated 
from the frontonasal by the supranasals, which form a suture; the 
‘other head-shields as in S. officinalis. Scales perfectly smooth, the 
‘largest dorsals twice as broad as long; 26 or 28 scales round the 
middle of the body. Coloration and size as in S. officinalis. 
Persia. 
a-b. Ad. Tangyak, 7 miles south of Bushire. (Types.) 
