24. ACONTIAS, 425 
First supraocular larger than the two others 
together ; uniform blackish .......... 7. plumbeus, p. 428. 
B. Snout subcuneiform, much depressed, strongly projecting ; 14 
scales round the body é 
Frontal not longer than prefrontal or 
than interparietal; black lines along the 
series of scales... .... 0... ce cece 8. lineatus, p. 428. 
Frontal longer than prefrontal or than 
interparietal ; dark cross bars on the 
dorsal 60al68' 4.6 eens vee oeaaw ewes e s 9. grayt, p. 428. 
1. Acontias burtonii. 
Nessia burtonii, Gray, Cat. p. 126. 
Nessia burtonii, Gray, Ann. N. H. ii. 1839, p. 386; Dum, & Bibr. v. 
p. 781; Kelaart, Prodr. Faun. Zeyl. ii. p. 11; Giinth. Rept. Brit. 
Ind.p. 97. 
Head conical ; snout long, pointed, projecting ; ear-opening distinct, 
minute; rostral covering about one third of the snout; mental 
moderate; frontonasal longer than the rostral and slightly shorter 
than the frontal; latter shield about as broad as long, angularly 
emarginate on each side by the first supraocular ; four supraoculars ; 
six supraciliaries ; interparietal nearly as long as and a little broader 
than the frontal; parictals narrow; loreal and first upper labial 
very long, much longer than the rostral; second labial entering the 
orbit. 24 scales round the middle of the body, equal. Limbs, both 
pairs present, minute, tridactyle, clawed. Preeanal scales not or 
scarcely enlarged. Length of the tail contained about once and a 
half in that of the head and body. Brown, lighter inferiorly, each ' 
scale edged with darker. 
From snout to vent 76 millim., tail 47. 
Ceylon. 
a,b. Ad, Ceylon. Dr. Kelaart. 
ec. Ad. Ceylon. G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq. [P.]. 
d-e, Ad. Ceylon. W. Ferguson, Esq. [P.]. 
ju. Ad. & her. Ceylon. Col. Beddome (ch. 
2. Acontias monodactylus. 
Evesia monodactyla, Gray, Cat. p. 127. 
Evesia monodactyla, Gray, Ann. N. H. ii. 1839, p. 336. 
bellii, Dum. & Bibr. v. p. 782. - 
Tetrapedos smithii, Jan, Arch. f. Nat. 1860, p. 69, pl. ii. figs. 4-12. 
Nessia monodactyla, Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 97. 
Snout shorter than in the preceding, more obtuse ; ear-opening 
distinct, minute; rostral covering nearly half the snout; mental 
moderate ; frontonasal a little shorter than the rostral, shorter than 
‘ the frontal; latter shield as long as broad or a little broader than 
' long, angularly emarginate on each side by the first supraocular ; 
