EREMIAS LATICEPS. 
largest but nevertheless small. Vide Plate XLVIII. figs. 3 and 3 a. Scales 
of the back and sides small, subrhomboidal, and the centre of each slightly 
elevated, they are disposed in oblique transverse bands, and are slightly imbri- 
cated; scales of the under surface of the neck disposed in transverse angular 
lines ; they are imbricate, irregularly quadrangular, and flat towards the ante- 
pectoral fold, the largest, posteriorly lengthened into short points ; the antepec- 
toral fold edged posteriorly with twelve small squarish scales. The pectoral 
plates of the first row longer and narrower than those which succeed it ; the ven- 
tral plates in transverse rows, about sixteen or eighteen in each ; the pectoral 
and ventral rows together thirty. Femoral pores thirteen, the innermost of the 
one side nearly in contact with that of the other, the opening of each directed 
obliquely outwards and backwards. Pre-anal plates numerous, and disposed 
in six rows, the hinder plates largest. Scales of the upper and lateral parts 
of tail keeled, of the lower parts smooth; the hinder edge of each scale 
narrower than the anterior edge. Scales of the fore-legs partly small, flat, and 
imbricate, partly large, the largest anteriorly, in a longitudinal row, extending 
to the toes. The scales of the hinder legs, posteriorly and externally, small, 
somewhat ovate and subimbricate ; below larger, triangular and imbricate, a 
row of large shield-like plates in front; the soles of the feet rough from small 
granular scales ; toes below with narrow, transverse, convex plates. In the 
fore-feet, the middle toe and the one external to it longest and nearly equal, 
the anterior one considerably the shortest, the remaining two nearly of equal 
length. Two of the toes of each hinder foot very long; a small tubercle at 
base of hinder toe, which is considerably removed from the other four. The 
longest toe of the fore-foot, when the leg, &c. is placed along the side of the 
neck, reaches to the anterior angle of the eye ; the longest of the hinder foot, 
when the leg is placed along the side, nearly to the opening of the ear. 
Length from the point of the nose to the anus 2 unc., length of the tail 3 unc. 3 lin. 
The only three specimens of this species which I possess, were obtained towards the mouth 
of the Orange River. At first sight this lizard might be considered as an example of Eremias 
Namaquensis, but when closely examined the points of difference are very evident. In E. Na- 
maquensis the lower eyelid externally is coated with rather large plates, arranged in two rows, in 
E. laticeps with numerous small scales ; in the former the nasal plates are contiguous, in the 
latter they are rather widely separated; in E. Namaquensis the scales of the body are more 
lengthened, of an ovate form, separated from each other, and with minute scales scattered 
between them; in E. laticeps they are imbricate, subrhomboidal, and without the small 
intermediate scales. Besides these differences, many others are to be discovered on close exami- 
nation. 
The only other species of the genus with which it may be confounded is JE. lugubris, when 
that species exhibits little if any of the black colour ; but it may at once be distinguished from 
it by having, in each ventral row, sixteen or eighteen instead of eight plates, as is the case in 
E. lugubris. 
