154 Transactions of the Boyal Society of South Africa. 
ZoNUEUs POLYzoNus (Smith); B.M. Cat., II., 257. 
Kimberley (A. Davis, L. McBean, W. Needham, F. Oats, J. H. 
Power); Rooidam, Kimberley (G. Gain) ; Eiet Pan, Kimb. (Miss B. Rein- 
hardt) ; Rust-en-vrede, Kimb. (Mrs. P. Vigne) ; Fort Richmond, Herbert 
(W. H. Wayland). 
This species is common on the kopjes near Kimberley. They are very 
shy creatures, and when disturbed immediately retire to the clefts of the 
rocks, where they remain for a long time. In their hiding-places they 
turn the tail round to act as a shield. Though not at all vicious, they will 
occasionally attempt to bite if much irritated. They seem to be exceed- 
ingly attached to particular localities : not only do they occupy the same 
small area indefinitely, but even the same rock crevice serves as a perma- 
nent abode for many months. In the fierce heat of a summer's day they 
emerge to sit on the top of the heated rock, where, with belly pressed 
flat on the stone, the foreparts raised on the front legs, the head and neck 
almost upright, they remain for hours, only turning the head from side to 
side in response to sounds, or darting down occasionally to catch an 
unwary beetle or locust. When at rest they orientate themselves in 
accordance with the sun's rays, on hot days facing the sun but on cold 
days exposing their backs thereto. The habit of facing the sun through- 
out the day is said to be shared by Zonurus giganteus in the Free State, 
and the farmers speak of that lizard as the Zon-hijker (Sun-gazer). The 
diet is mainly insects of various kinds, but, on dissection, grass-stalks 
were found in the stomach of one specimen ; another contained the 
remains of Zonocerus elegans, a very gaudy and ill-smelling grasshopper. 
The stomach and intestines are sometimes infested with nematodes. The 
tail is brittle and may break off at any of the joints, but the animal does 
not get rid of it unless roughly handled ; after such an accident a new 
one, similar in thickness though not in scaling, is formed. 
They seem to be of polygamous habits : in one locality nine females 
were found accompanied by only a single male. Males and females are 
easily distinguished externally through the femoral pores, which are only 
developed in the males. They breed early in September, and the young 
are born in January. The young are dirty white or grey, ornamented with 
small square and oblong black spots, and light bars at regular intervals 
across the tail. 
The winter hibernation is neither long nor deep. 
Platysaurus guttatus Smith ; B.M. Cat., II., 262. 
Insiza (G. French). 
This species is united with capensis by Mr. Boulenger (Ann. S.A. Mus., 
V. 469), who includes all the known forms under that name. We hold that 
