Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
131 
From this species however our form may differ in the comparative 
lengths of the eye and snout. Werner in his description of P. brunn- 
thaleri states that the scales on the back and on the tail are distinctly 
imbricated (“deutlich geschildelten ”) : this is also the case in our 
Namaqualand specimens of P. punctatus , though it would be more 
correct to state that the scales on the back and posterior part of the neck 
are sub-imbricate. We are not therefore using this last mentioned 
character in our key. It is unfortunate that no mention is made of the 
scales on the snout in the description of P. brunntbaleri , for this seems 
to us to be a character of considerable importance in separating some of 
the small species of Pachydcictylus which possess homogeneous dorsal 
lepidosis. Werner also attaches importance to the position of the nostril 
in his new species : we find however in our Namaqualand specimens of 
P. punctatus that the first labial may be distinctly separated from the 
nostril or may very closely approach it. 
We think it probable that P. brunnthaleri will prove to be the same 
as P. punctatus. 
The markings are very variable : generally reddish-brown with 
darker or lighter (or both) variations dorsally. Light, immaculate below. 
Tail fairly long, thin, and tapering. The largest specimen measures 
36 mm. from snout to vent. 
Found hiding under stones during the daytime. 
P. purcelli, Blgr. 
P. purcelli, Bouleng.. Ann. S. A. Mus. V, 1910, p. 494. 
P. pardus , Sternfeld, Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin, V, 3, p. 398. 
11 examples from the Great Karas Mountains. Localities : 3088, 
Wasserfall ; 3089-3096, Kraikluft, at an altitude of 5200 feet, in crevices 
of rocks ; 3099, Narudas Siid ; 3102, 3103, between Kraikluft and Alt 
Wasserfall. 
There can be little doubt but that this Karasberg species is the same 
as that described by Sternfeld from Warmbad under the name of P. pardus , 
and after carefully comparing our series with the types of P. purcelli 
Blgr. we are compelled to regard the two as specifically identical though 
some minor differences of structure do exist between our specimens and 
the types of purcelli. When compared with P. purcelli the Karasberg 
specimens have (1) the granules on the snout a trifle smaller, (2) the snout 
not so depressed and the head somewhat narrower posteriorly, (3) the eye 
just a trifle larger. 
Sternfeld distinguishes his species from that of Boulenger in (1) the 
shape of the ear-opening which is round and larger than in purcelli : in 
the types of purcelli this structure is oval : (2) in the longer snout, and (3) 
in the colour. With reference to the length of the snout, however, we 
may remark that there can be little difference between the snout which is 
“ one and two-thirds as long as the diameter of the eye ” ( pardus ), and 
the snout which is “a little longer than the diameter of the orbit” 
{purcelli). 
After careful examination of our specimens we have concluded that 
Sternfeld has composed the diagnosis of his species from unimportant 
characters which are subject to much variation. Thus the ear-opening in 
our specimens may be almost horizontally elliptic or nearly round, and 
may vary in actual size. The colour and the markings are also variable. 
The Karasberg form of P. purcelli , Blgr. may be described as follows : 
head depressed : snout a little longer than the orbit ; ear-opening an 
