34 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
CHAMAESAURA. 
The four South African species of this genus all occur in the- 
Transvaal, C . aenea being the commonest species. 
I suspect, however, that C. didactyla Boul (Proe. Zool. Soc., 
1890, p. 82) will prove to he merely a variety or individual variation 
of C. anguina. According to the descriptions the chief difference lies 
in the fact that C . didactyla has tw~o tiny digits each with a claw, 
whilst C. anguina has only one digit with its small claw; a difference 
of colour is also recorded. Of these two species we have four 
specimens, of which one (from Irene, Taylor) is- typical anguina; 
another from the same locality, and sent by Mr. Taylor at the same 
time, is didactyla, and the two others are typically didactyla so far 
as the hands are concerned, but the foot in one specimen is didactyl 
on one side and monodactyl on the oilier, whilst in the other specimen 
the feet can hardly be called didactyl as the second digit and claw 
is so very minute. The colour of these specimens of C . didactyla is 
exactly that recorded for anguina. Dr. Jean Roux also records 
didactylism in a limb of a specimen of C. anguina. The question 
of the validity of C. didactyla must, however, remain sub judice 
until a good series of specimens can be examined.* 
The several species of Chamaesaura can be recognized by the 
aid of the following synopsis : — 
Fore limbs wanting; scales in 22 longitudinal and 37 or 38 
transverse series to base of tail ... ... C. macrolepis Cope 
Both pairs of limbs pentadactyle, scales in 28 longitudinal and 
42 transverse series ... ... ... C. aenea Wiegm. 
Both pairs of limbs styliform, scales in 26 longitudinal and 
38 or 39 transverse series — 
(a) with two tiny digits each with a claw, the inner digit 
shortest ... ... ... ... ...C. didactyla BouL 
(b) a single digit clawed at the end ...C. anguina Linn. 
P seudocordylus microlepidotus Cuv. See characters of the genus. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ZONURIDAE. 
The exact distribution of the South African reptiles is still 
incompletely known, for although European workers have from time 
to time published lists of species obtained by travellers in South 
Africa, these lists have not been supplemented by local workers. In 
fact the only faunistic lists published in South Africa or by local 
workers are those of the Natal Government Museum and of Air. Chubb 
in Bulawayo. Records of special groups have been published by 
Dr. Gough, my predecessor, who dealt with snakes, and by 
Dr. Duerden, of the Albany Museum, who worked on tortoises. 
However, although it is not yet possible to precisely define the 
limits of distribution of some of the species here dealt with, yet I 
believe that sufficient data is now forthcoming to enable us to roughly 
indicate the specific areas of distribution. Material for this purpose 
has been furnished by the extensive collections of this museum, and 
for much additional information I am indebted to the authorities 
of all the other South African Museums who have kindly placed their 
material at my disposal. 
* Since this was written my suspicions have been confirmed on examining the collections 
of this species in the South African Museum, for specimens from the same localities show all 
degrees of variation between typical anguina and didactyla. 
