TARENTOLA CAPENSIS. 
the anterior and upper surface of the head, the large scales which form 
the entire covering are ovate and nearly flat, on the hinder parts of the 
head, and on the anterior parts of the back and sides, they are only thinly 
scattered among the small ones not in any regular order, and are inclined 
to conical; on the hinder parts of the back and sides, they are more 
numerous than anteriorly, rather large and more of an oval form, with a 
distinct keel. On the outer sides of the extremities, the large scales are 
slightly convex, part round, and part ovate. Tail cylindrical, spindleform, 
and narrower at the base than immediately behind it, tapered to a fine 
point ; scales as on the back of two sorts, the small ones flat, roundish, 
and strongly imbricate, the larger ones projecting and arranged in transverse 
rows on its upper surface. Scales between limbs of lower jaw and on the 
under surface of the neck very small and somewhat circular ; on belly 
larger, subovate, and imbricate. Eyes moderately large, pupil vertical. 
Length from the point of the nose to the base of the tail 2 in. 4 4 lines ; length of the tail 2 inches. 
Found, in the interior of Southern Africa, among decayed wood, and under the bark of dead 
trees. When discovered it endeavours t,o conceal itself under the object nearest it. It moves 
slowly, and when to its purpose ascends perpendicular bodies of the most slippy description 
without difficulty. Like most of its genus, it dislikes the glare of the mid-day sun, from which 
it appears to suffer considerable inconvenience. 
This cannot be regarded as a typical species of Tarentola, and I have no doubt it will 
hereafter be found to associate better elsewhere, if, when we apprehend better the distinctive 
characters of reptiles, even the group, as it is now constituted, be not dismembered. 
