| OCR Text |
Show 1895.] BATRACHIANS FROM ADEN. 653 . As this chameleon belongs to a section of the genus not known to occur in Madagascar, it is possible that Lieut. Barnard may have obtained it either at Mozambique or more probably at Zanzibar. To the latter port it might have been carried in a native dhow, either from Aden, or from Makulla, in the Hadramut, in which latter Sultanate the species is quite as common as at Aden, judging from the number of fine specimens brought back by m y collector. It does not seem, in view of Peters's description and figure of C. calcarifer, that Herr Matschie has satisfactorily established the specific distinctness of the Aden chameleon, and, until more convincing evidence is adduced, I adhere to the view first expressed by Mr. Boulenger. In Colonel Yerbury's specimens there is great variation in the form of the casque, as it is anteriorly convex in some, while the mesial ridge in others is perfectly flat and directed backwards. There are various modifications of these two extremes. The scales of the body are all more or less conical as described by Mr. Matschie, but the degree to which this exists depends a good deal on the strength of the spirit in which the specimens have been placed and the time they have been in spirit, at least such is the case with the Aden specimens I have examined; for the recent specimens have more definitely conical scales than those that have been long in alcohol. In the former the tubercles are crowded together hiding the fine granules, while in the latter the tubercles are apart, more or less flattened and exposing the granules. In well-preserved specimens the scales above the shoulder and for a depth of five rows below the dorsal ridge are larger than the body-scales generally, and perfectly flat. The occipital lobes, as in C. vulgaris, are the subject of considerable variation in the form of their outline, being much more roundly convex in some than in others. Their free margin is covered with conical tubercles, but they vary considerably in size and in their degree of convexity. Sex. d - 2 - d ... d ... Snout to end of casque. 75 62 72 65 62 Angle of mouth to summit of casque. 53 50 51 47 46 Snout to vent. 215 200 198 196 174 Vent to tip of tail. 215 224 193 200 190 Huswah, near Aden. Aden. Aden. Toban Biver, Isfian, near Aden. Haithalhim. " This chameleon is plentiful inland and may be found on any fairly large bush. In 1884,1 found at Huswah, in a small bush of |
