South African Agam'as allied to Agama hisjnda and A. afra. 243 
dorsal scales arranged in clusters ; upper head scales not so strongly keeled 
as usual ; 4 enlarged trihedral scales on the forehead ; occipital scale slightly 
pitted ; ventrals perfectly smooth throughout ; toes rather long and slender. 
The lesser length of the third toe compared with the fourth has been 
regarded as the principal character for separating A. hrachyura from 
A. hispida. However, the case above noted, of the third toe being the 
longer on the riglit foot and the fourth on the left, shakes our faith in its 
value, and we have in consequence referred to A. hrachyura those sj^ecimens 
form Pt. Nolloth (South African Museum) which differ from others obtained 
in the same locality in no other important point. All we can say is that in 
the south-west parts of the Cape Province a rougher lepidosis coupled with 
a longer third toe (typical A. hispida) prevails. The more noi-thern form 
may perhaps be maintained as distinct under the name of var. hrachyura. 
Aijama hispida, var. hrachyura, seems to inhabit arid regions, and is found 
at Aus in rocky localities. According to Capt. J. B. Knobel the neighbour- 
hood of Aus is very rugged, but at sonje distance from it there is a good 
dveal of grass veld, and at intervals some wind-blown sand. The country is 
bleak and bare except in the hollows, where the rain-water settles and enables 
a few trees to grow. 
This variety is also found in the Karroo. 
C. Var. DISTANTI. 
Agama distanti, Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) ix, 1902, p. 839. 
The distinction of this form from A. hispida was originally based on 
specimens from Pretoria and Kustenburg, Transvaal, preserved in the 
British Museum. The following description is drawn up exclusively from 
these type specimens. 
Form. — Habit very stout, body much depressed. Head short, convex, 
cordiform, its width equal to its length to occiput or slightly greater ; snout 
very short, rounded ; canthus rostralis very short ; nostril directed outwards 
or outwards and upwards, in a convex but not tubular shield, pierced on or 
just below the canthus rostralis ; length of head 3^ to 41 times in length to 
vent. Diameter of ear-opening equal to or slightly greater than length of cleft 
of closed eye. Limbs moderately elongate ; the hind limb, pressed against 
the body, reaches the shoulder or the neck (or the ear in young) ; length of 
hand equal to or a little less than depth of head ; fingers short, third 
longest; tibia shorter than the head, as long as or slightly shorter than 
the foot ; toes short, third longer than fourth, fifth not extending as far as 
first. Tail cylindrical, moderately or very slender, a little longer or shorter 
than head and body ( ^ to 1}). 
Measurements of type specimens, in millimetres : 
