PLATYSAURUS CAPENSIS.— Smith * 
Reptilia. — Plate XL. 
P. superne griseo-brunneus, dorso fascis tribus subalbidis notato ; capite corporeque fortiter depresses ; 
corporis squamis parvis; poris femoralibus 18; cauda versus basin depressa versus apicei 
cylindracea ; partibus inferioribus, viridi flavis. 
Longitudo & naso ad basin caudee 3 unc. ; caudae 4 unc. 8 lin. 
Colour. — The upper portion of the head anteriorly, the centre of the 
hind head and its outer edges so far as the anterior extremity of each eyebrow 
greenish yellow ; the other parts of the hind head light blackish green. 
Back and sides of body intermediate between hair and broccoli brown, the 
skin which is visible between the scales is darkest. Back varied with three 
longitudinal cream-yellow lines, faintly tinted with green, the two outer 
ones towards hinder legs slightly arched outwards. The central line com- 
mences exactly at the middle of the posterior edge of the hind head, and 
one of the others at each outer angle, — from these situations they proceed 
separately till they reach close to the base of the tail, where they coalesce 
and form a continuous light band which occupies the entire of its upper 
surface to the very point. Under surface of head, neck, body, and extremities 
wine-yellow, the two first tinted with flesh-red ; under surface of tail the 
same colour, tinged with yellowish brown. The upper and lower lips, as 
also the under surface of the edges of the lower jaw wood-brown. 
Form. — Figure slender, with the belly bulging laterally ; head small, and 
like the body and tail, is much depressed, posteriorly square, and anteriorly 
much tapered ; the nose is narrow and rounded ; nasal plate small, with the 
* Char. Gen. Platysauri.— Teeth short, numerous, closely set, slender, conical and rather blunt ; 
tongue fleshy and rather pointed ; nostrils circular and situated near to the posterior and inferior edge of 
the naso-rostral plate ; frontal plate single, t fronto-parietal plates, four, the two hinder ones and the 
parietals forming a square shield, like what is observed in Cordylm. Palpebral plates edged externally 
with a row of narrow plates as in Gerrhosaurus. Body much depressed, scales very small, abdominal 
plates quadrangular and arranged in transverse rows; femoral pores small but distinct. Gular collar 
rudimentary. 
f By mistake rendered double in the Plate. 
