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Show 658 MR. W. T. BLANFORD ON TWO NEW LIZARDS. [Nov. 17, dentition, and by their elongate intestines. They live entirely vegetable food*; and all, so far as I am aware, dwell in holes. By Mr. Theobald (Journ. Linn. Soc. x. p. 34) they were placed in a family distinct from the Agamidaf; and this view has been adopted by Dr. Stoliczka and Dr. Anderson ; and they certainly form a very well-marked group. UROMASTIX MICROLEPIS, sp. nov. (Plate LXXX.) U. affinis U. spinipedi, sed tuberculis majoribus ad latera corporis sparsis carens, et plicis ad latera colli tubercula parva ferentibus, squamisque supra et infra pedes minoribus distin-guendus: ab U. acanthinura squamis omnibus multo minoribus facile dignoscenda. Hab. in Mesopotamia juxta urbem Basrah (Bussora). Description.-General form massive, trunk broad, depressed; head triangular, upper portion flat behind, descending in a curve towards the muzzle. Limbs rather stout; the fore foot laid forward extends beyond the snout by the length of the fingers ; laid backward it reaches two thirds of the distance to the thigh; when the hind foot is brought forward, the ends of the toes nearly touch the axil. Toes strong, a fringe of pointed scales on the outer edge of the fourth toe in tbe bind foot, and less-marked fringes on the second and third toes. Claws rather long, pale-coloured. Tail thick, gradually diminishing in size behind, formed of rings of pointed conical tubercles, its length about equal to that of the body without the head and neck. About eighteen subconical teeth on each side of the upper jaw, those in front smaller and much worn down ; fifteen similar teeth, much blunted, on each side of the lower jaw. In front of the upper jaw is a cutting edge formed of a broad central portion, which appears to be a process of the outer maxillary bone, and two smaller lateral teeth, one on each side, apparently united to the central process at the base^. Similarly in front of the lower jaw are two cutting edges, one at the end of each ramus of the mandible, each composed of an osseous and a dental portion, the osseous portion tbe broadest, and nearest to the extremity of the jaw. In young specimens the dental portion of these pseudo-incisors is more developed, and the osseous portion less than in adults. Tongue deeply cleft at the end. The largest specimen obtained measures 21 inches, of which the tail from the anus measures 8*5, head 2, fore limb to end of claws 4-75, third toe and claw measured from the division between the third and fourth toes PI2, hind limb 6'25, third toe P22. * Stellio is partially herbivorous, but it also lives on insects. t B y M r . Theobald Phrynocephalus was also included ; but the three Persian species of this genus which I have examined agree with Agama and Stellio in their dentition, and in the intestine being comparatively short. They are also purely insectivorous, and do not live in holes. I For figures and descriptions of the dentition of Uromastix hardwickii and U. spinipes, see Giinther on the Anatomy of Hatteria-Phil. Trans, pt. ii. 1867, p. 8, pi. i. figs. 12-15. |
