31. LYaODACITLTJS. 159 



Digits of very unequal length, slender and subcylindrical at the 

 base, free, with strong discoid terminal dilatation bearing two series 

 of regular oblique lameUee below, separated by a median groove ; 

 thumbs rudimentary, not dilated, with a very small, frequently 

 indistiact, sheathed retractile claw ; the other digits with a recurved 

 terminal clawed phalange, the claw being retractile between the 

 anterior pair of lameUse. Upper surfaces covered with juxtaposed 

 granular scales ; lower surfaces with imbricate scales. Pupil round. 

 Eyelid distinct all round the eye. Males with prseanal pores. 



Africa ; Madagascar. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Tail without a median series of large transversely dilated scales 



inferiorly. 



Nostril posterior to the suture of the 



rostral and first labial 1. capensis, p. 160. 



Nostril anterior to the suture of the [p. 160. 



rostral and first labial 2. madagascariensis, 



II. Tail with a median series of large transversely dilated scales 



inferiorly. 



Nostril anterior to the suture of the 



rostral and first labial 3. thomensis, p. 161. 



Nostril posterior to the suture of the 



rostrEil and first labial ; the males' 



throat with black chevron-shaped 



markings 4. gutturalis, p. 161. 



Nostril posterior to the suture of the 



rostral and first labial; the males' 



throat black , 5. picturatus, p. 161. 



S. thomensis. Above brown, witb black and yellow markings. On the snout, 

 between the eyes, and on the nape black cross lineB, and on the side of the neck 

 two or three longitudinal black lines. Yellow, black-edged spots forming 

 irregular transverse rows on the neck and back ; similar spots on the limbs. 

 Yellow, black-edged cross-lines on the sacral region and on the tail. Below 

 dirty yellow, black-dotted on the lower lip and chin. 



SCALABOTES BIVITTI3. 



Three small scales between the nasals ; three scales in a cross row behind the 

 mental ; snout twice and a half as long as the eye. Dark brown above, with an 

 ochreous yellow lateral band originating from the supero-posterior part of the 

 eye, and continued to the base of the tail. Ochreous yellow inferiorly, dotted 

 with bluish black. 



SCALABOTES HILDEBRANDTI. 



A single scale between the nasals ; three scales behind the mental, the posterior 

 lateral sides of which are shorter than the median ; snout twice as long as the 

 eye. Above marbled with dark and light brown ; sides darker, yellow-dotted. 

 Limbs cross-barred. Lower surface yellow, dotted with dark. 



