164 



MR. A. LOVEIIIDGE ON 



Meek, in his paper on the " Batrachians and Reptiles from 

 British East Africa," makes reference to this subspecies under 

 the name of ChamcEleon jacksoiii (Blgr.). He refers fifteen 

 specimens collected in Lukenya Province to this species, yet 

 says: " The males ai-e easily distinguished by having the rostral 

 and two occipital horns of about equal length. These cephalic 

 projections on the female are short ; the occipital ones are usually 

 very short, in these specimens never more than half the length of 

 the rostral horn." This is then followed by a table of measure- 

 ments in support of the theory. By occipital he means prse- 

 orbital hoi-ns. 



There is nothing to support this in the series collected at 

 Nairobi, of which measurements were taken. Only the measure- 

 ments of eleven specimens are given below, as there is no doubt 

 about the sex of these specimens ; measurements were taken of 

 twice this number, but not being available for sexing, they are 

 not taken into account : — 



Kegister Number . 379. 6129. 3534. 238. 6131. 6130. 232. 333. 3809. 3253. 4563, 



Sex M. M. M. 



Length of head and 



body 113 100 91 



Length of rostral 



horn 17 17 17 



Length of pri»- 



orbitalhorn ... 18-17 18 18-17 



M. M. F. F. F. F. F. F. 



90 65 132 118 117 116 100 75 



17 7 15 19 19 22 12 5 



17 7 6 19 19 25 5-6 I'S 



Where two lengths are given for the prie-orbital horns it is 

 because they are of unequal length, and the measurement of the 

 right horn is then given first. It will be seen that the greatest 

 variation is found in the respective horn leugths. In two of the 

 females the rostral and pra?-orbital horns are of the same length, 

 as is the case in most males'; in one specimen (3809) the prss- 

 orbital horns are much longer than the rostral, whilst in another 

 (4563) the pr?e-orbitals are like tiny thorns only 1-5 mm. long. 



One sometimes finds specimens with injured horns apparently 

 in process of being regenerated. Natives are, I believe, often 

 responsible for this condition of affairs. They are very afraid of 

 these reptiles, and so, if a young man has couiage enough to seize 

 one of the creatures and cut oft' its horns with a knife, it is counted 

 greatly to his credit. I believe this is done so that the horns 

 may be j)resented to his lady-love to thread on her necklace as 

 proof of his devotion. 



The largest specimen taken was a female 14^ inches long 

 (132-128 mm.). This specimen had also the largest number of eggs, 

 no fewer than forty being found in the ovary ; these measured 

 20x20 mm. (IT.vii. 19). Thirty-six were found in another 



