AmrALs of the TrahsVaal Museum. 
189 
7-8 Waterval Onder, Nov., 1907, Gough. 
9 No record. Intermediate in characters between this species and 
A. hispida var. distanti. Vertebral line reduced to a few 
spots, ventrals strongly keeled. 
AGAMA HISPIDA VAR. DISTANTI. BOULENGER. 
Plate XXL , figs. 1, 2, 3. 
Dorsal scales (smaller than in the preceding species, compare photographs), 
strongly keeled, imbricate, mucronate, intermixed with strongly 
enlarged spinose scales, arranged in longitudinal rows. 
Head scales rough, keeled. Occipital enlarged, some sub-conical scales 
on the middle of the snout and on the hack of the head, perhaps not 
quite so raised as in A. hispida. 
Spines on the sides of the head near the ear and on the neck in small 
groups. On the upper surface of the head the spines are short, sub- 
conical, perhaps not quite so large as those of A. hispida. 
Nostril, not tubular, just below the canthus rostralis. 
Crests : A very distinct nuchal and dorsal crest. 
Ventrals smooth or feebly keeled (sometimes strongly keeled !). 
Scales on the limbs strongly keeled, larger than the dorsals, unequal. 
Fingers : Fourth longest, first and fifth equally long. 
Toes : Third longest, fifth not extending as far as the first. 
Tail with strongly keeled mucronate scales, intermixed with enlarged 
spinose scales at the base. 
Colouration very variable, a light, sometimes broken, vertebral stripe 
constantly present, dark brown or reddish brown above, spotted or 
barred with darker. A V-shaped light mark often present across 
the head above the eyes, another light bar across the snout, just in 
front of the eyes, sides of belly and chest often brick red, belly 
yellowish. Throat usually with blue or black markings forming 
reticulations or longitudinal wavy lines. 
Habits : Agama hispida var. distanti, Blgr., is very common in most parts of 
the Transvaal ; it freuents stony places, and may often be found along 
the sides of a road. When running it carries its belly well off the 
ground, and its tail in the air. It usually runs a short distance, then 
squats down suddenly, moving on again if disturbed. One frequently 
sees them raising and lowering their heads and the front part of the 
body rapidly for several times in succession. They often sit at the 
opening- of an ant’s nest and pick off each ant as it comes out. The 
female digs a hole two or three inches deep to lay its eggs in, and fills 
in the hole again, having deposited its eggs. I have also observed 
them climbing up shrubs to a height of a yard or more above the 
ground (especially near Woodbush). It is interesting to note that 
about 80 per cent, of the specimens found around Pretoria are 
infested with Cestodes. 
Records : 
1-20 Pretoria, 1907. 
21 Transvaal. 
22-23-24 Waterberg, May, 1899. 
25 Pretoria, Sept., 1897, Gunning. 
26-30 Pretoria, Aug., 1897. 
31 Pretoria, 1906, Kirby. 
