A Contribution to our Knotuleclgc of the Anatomy of Ckamaclcons . 103 
remains have been reported from Oligocene deposits in France, but we are 
unable to express any opinion regarding the accuracy of the record. 
Further, taking all the data of distribution " and morphology into con- 
sideration, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the family as we know 
it to-day has spread from a centre of origin situated in that portion of the 
Ethiopian region of which there now remains two separated components, 
Madagascar and the Cape Province of Sclater, for only in these areas do we 
find what we believe to be the more primitive members of the family. 
There is no evidence in favour of a northern origin for this family. 
We think it advisable to restore Gray's genus Lopliosaura to include 
the pumilus group of the genus Ghamaeleon, as this section seems to be 
sharply separated from the other members of that large genus. The 
characters of Lopliosaura may be described as follows : Casque made up 
largely of the parietal bone which is a broad plate with a lateral process 
on each side descending to meet the prosquamosal ; prosquamosal not 
forming suture with jugal ; pre- and post-frontals not in contact ; no 
lachrymal bones; maxillary and prefrontal bones in contact separating the 
nasal bones from the nasal aperture ; 14 pairs of ribs ; lungs without trace 
of diverticula. The external characters are those given by Mr. Boulenger 
for the pumilus group, viz. : A gular crest ; no ventral crest ; no light line 
from chin to vent; no occipital lobes; no rostral appendages; no tarsal 
process. The members of this genus LopJiosaura are probably all 
viviparous. The genus comprises all the South African species referred to 
the pumihcs group and probably also Ghamaeleon tigris of the Seychelles. 
As we have previously mentioned, the remaining species included in the 
genus Ghamaeleon show considerable structural differences — perhaps 
of varying importance — and possibly will prove to be separable into 
a number of distinct groups, each of generic value. Unfortunately we 
have not sufficient material to enable us to attempt further rearrangement. 
Description of a New Variety of the Genus Lophosaura, Gray. 
LOPHOSAURA VENTRALIS, Var. KARROOICA. 
Description oj tijpe : No. 1789 in the Albany Museum, collected at 
Beaufort West, by Master Philip Whaits. 
Casque feebly elevated, not quite so narrow and pointed behind as in 
the typical form of G. ventralis — Yur. tijjncus -(from Grahamstown or Port 
Elizabeth). 
* For notes on the distribution of Chamaeleons see Hewitt in Transvaal Museum 
Annals, vol. ii., p. 67, and for detailed accounts Werner in Zoologische Jahrbuch, 1902, 
and Das Tierueich, 1911. 
