EREMIAS FORMOSA. 
with minute granular scales ; the shape of the other plates uncertain, from the 
specimen having been injured by shot. Vide Plate XLVIII. Fig 15 and 15 a. 
Plates of upper lip, in front of large infra-orbital plate, five, behind it two, the 
liindermost much the smallest; plates of lower lip, not including that of chin, 
six; freno-nasal plate quadrangular, freno-ocular large, and considerably 
wider behind than before ; disc of lower eyelid consists of two large pellucid 
plates. Scales of the back small, subrhomboidal, and arranged in regular 
transverse rows, each row forming an obtuse angle at the centre of the back, 
and each scale slightly overlapping the one immediately external to it, as 
well as the one directly behind it. Scales of the upper surface of the tail 
strongly carinated, of the under surface near to the vent, thin, quadrangular, 
and fiat, towards the point laterally compressed, and forming two obtuse 
keels, between which is a deep longitudinal furrow. Scales of the under sur- 
face ol the neck, towards the chin, small, oblong, and subovate, of the poste- 
rior part, towards the breast, larger, somewhat triangular, and imbricate ; 
antepectoral fold distinct, and formed of twelve small, somewhat quadrangular 
plates, the middle ones the largest ; plates of the breast quadrangular, and 
arranged in irregular waved transverse rows ; plates of the belly in nearly 
straight transverse rows, ten in the longest, the middle plate smallest and 
triangular, the others quadrangular. Preanal plates about fourteen, four in 
the liindermost row ; femoral pores eleven or twelve. On the fore leg being 
stretched along the side of the neck, the longest toe reaches a little beyond 
the point of the nose ; and on the hinder one being extended along the side, 
the longest toe touches the angle of the mouth. 
Length from the point of the nose to the vent, 1 inch 9 lines ; length of the tail, 3 inches. 
Inhabits the arid districts on the western coast of Southern Africa, more especially in the 
neighbourhood of the Orange River. It is extremely active and very shy, consequently speci- 
mens are procured with difficulty, and I only succeeded, even with the aid of a gun, in obtaining 
two, both of which were much injured by the shot. 
So far as colours are concerned, this species bears considerable resemblance to Eremias 
Knoxii and lineo-ocellata, but the scales of its back being flat and without keels, and its tail 
below toward the point being bicarinate, furnish characters by which it is readily to be 
distinguished from both. 
