Descriptions of new Reptilia and Amphibia from Persia and Baluchistan.

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r

THE ANNALS

AND

MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY,

INCLUDING

ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, and GEOLOGY.

(being a continuation of the * ANNALS ' COMBINED WITH I.OUDON AND

CHARLESWORTIl's 'MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY.')

CONDUCTED BY

CHARLES C. BABINGTON, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S.,
JOHN EDWARD GRAY, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.L.S,, F.Z.S. &c.,

WILLIAM S. DALLAS, F.L.S.,

AND

WILLIAM FRANCIS, Ph.D., F.L.S.

VOL. XIV.— FOURTH

v^v-v* ^

x\^\o^

LONDON

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS.

SOLD BY LONGMANS; GREEN, READER, AND DYER ; SIMPKIN, MARSHALI.,
AND CO.; KENT AND CO.; WHITTAKER AND CO.: BAILLIERE^ PARIS:

MACLACHLAN AND STEWART, EDINEUTIGH :

BERLIN.

HODGES, FOSTER, AND CO., DUBLIN : AND A

1874.

J

Rcf.

I

CONTENTS OF VOL. XIV

[FOURTH SERIES.]

NUMBER

Page
I. Observations on a few GraptoUtes from the Lower Silurian Rocks
of Victoria, Austrfilia ; witli a Further Note on the Structure of
Cerafiucaris. By R. Etheridge, Jan., F.G.S. (l*late III.J 1

n. Amphipodous Crustacea. A new Species, and some Items of
Description and Nomenclature. By the Rev. T. R. R. SxEBBiNa,

MA /'Plifpq 7 Sr IT \ 10

III. On CaUmma Branicldiy a new Specios from Nice. By Au-
gustus WuzESNiowsKr, Professor of Zoology in the Warsaw

IV. On the Longicorn Coleoptera of New Zealand. By IL \V.
Bates, F.L.S

15

i « ■ • • « •

16

V. On the Skulls of Sea-bears and Sea-lions (Otan'adce)^ and on

the Seals of the Auckland Islands. By Dr. J. E, Gray^ F.R.S. Sec. 24

VI. Descriptions of new Reptilia and Amphibia from Persia and
Baluchistan. By W. T. Blanfokd, F.R.S 31

VII. Description of a new Species of Skink. By A. W. E.
O'Shaughnessy, Assistant in the Natural-History Department of
the British Museum

• ««««««« «tat#»t«**i»i«*9fii##* **#t*t«*t •*•

^.f^
UO

VIII. A Contribution to the Fauna of the River Tigris. By Dr.
Albert GIjnther, F.R.S.^ Assistant Keeper of the Zoological De-
partment, British Museum, (l^lates VIII. & IX.) 30

IX. On the Skull and some other Bones of Loxonwm Alhnanni,
By D. Embleton, M.D., and Thomas Attiiey. With four Plates

by W^illiam Dinning. (Plates IV.-VII.) 38

X. On a new Genus and Species of Bird belonging to the Family
Nectarimidcp, ByR. Bowdleii Sharpe, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., Senior
Assistant, Zoological Department^ British Museum

XI. On Priority in the Discovery of the Canal-System in Forami-
nifera. By Messrs. Parker, Jones, and Brady 64

XII. On the Invertebrate Marine Fauna and Fishes of St. Andrews.

XJj \i t w» ItX into Six • . . « i • . g ••..•• Uo

Mr. W. 'J\ JBlaiiiord on new Beptifia.

VI. — Descriptions of new RejytUia and Amjyliibki from Persia

and Baluchistdn. By W. T. Blanfoed, F.E.S.*

Lacertilia.

Family Lacertidae.
9, Lacerta princeps.

L. magna, fere sesquipedalis, dcntibus palatalibus praidita ; scutis
postnasalibus xitrinque biiiis, praefrontali unico, verticalis mar-
giuibus lateralibiis parallelis, anteriore posterioreque in medio

promincntibus ; sqiiamis temporalibus polygonalibus, antice majo-

ribus ; eollari libcro, dcnticiilato ; sqiiamis dorsalibus rliomboidcis,
carinatis, in series transversas ordinatis. ventralibus in series
10 longitudinales, extremas valde angustiores, dispositis ; poris

femoralibns utrinque 14: snpra griseo-olivacea,

maciilis 4-5 cseruleis, nigro marginatis, longitudinaliter ordinatis,

utrinque post axillam ornata.

Ilah. in Persia meridionali.

Only a single specimen obtained. The form of the back-
scales resembles that in the small species Lacerta Fitzingeri
and its allies {Nofoj^holis^ Gray, nee Wagler).

10. Eremias ^ersica.

E, major, cauda elongata, corporis longitudinem diraidio vol plus
quam dinxidio excedente, membris longioribus quam in peraflBni
E. argata PalL, pede anteriore ad rostrum attmgente, posteriore
ultra humerum ; scuto infraoculari ad labrum pertinente; supra-
labialibus caetcris 5-7 antice, 3-4 postice ; squamis caudaUbus
caudoe basin versus Laud carinatis : supra grisescenti-castanea,
nigro sparsim maculata, fascia lata nigra vel nigrescente, interdum
albo maculata yel interrupta utrinque ad latus ornata ; dorso in
aetate juniore albo nigroque longitudinaliter fasciato, lateribus
membrisque superne nigris, albo maculatis : caeterum E. argutte
E. velociqne Pall, similis.

Ilab, freqiiens in omnibus fere planitiebus Persicis, quas
altitudincm pedum 3000 supra mare superant.

A fine species, distinguislicd from E. argiday Pall. {=E.

variahilis)j by its longer tail and limbs, and by the infraocular

sliield extending to the lip. From E. velox^ Pall., it may be
recognized by the caudal scales not being keeled. It is a
larger form than either, growing to a length of between 9 and

inches, and somewhat differently coloured.

* Continued from vol. xiii. p. 45o

32 Mr. W. T, Blanforcl on new Reptilia

11. Ei^emias fasciata.

V

E, sexpollicarisj gracilis, elongata, cauda corporis longituclinem
duplam sequante vel superante ; coUari libero, recto ; sqiiamis
dorsalibus parvis, rotuiidatis, convexis; caiidalibiis superioribus
carinatis, ventralibiis in series transversas 32-35, singulas in
medio abdomine e 14-1 G scutis oblique nee longitudinaliter
ordinatis compositas ; pra^anali uno, soepe (hand semper) majorc ;

pons femoralibus utiinque 16-19 ; scuto praefrontali unico,
a rostrali supranasalibus, at a verticali postfrontalibns longe
discrcto ; supraciliaribus duobus aequalibus granulis fere vel
omnino circumdatis; interoccipitali posteriore nullo; infraorbital!
ad labrum pertinente ; dentibus palatalibus nnllis : supra albida
vel fulvescenti-grisea, fusco longitudinaliter fasciata, membris
superne fuscis, albo macula tis.

Ilah. in Persia meridionali^ hand procul ab nrbe Karman
et in Gedrosia Iiaud frequens.

Distinguished from young examples of E. persica by its
more elongate form^ duller colours^ by the superciliary shields
as a rule being surrounded by granules, and by the entire
absence of palatal teeth.

Mesalina, Gray.

The principal character given by Gray for the distinction
of this genus from Eremias^ the presence of a large pr^anal

1^ is variable in individuals. A better distinction is the
form of the ventral shields : they are more numerous and
arranged in oblique rows in EremiaSj less numerous and

arranged in longitudinal series in Mesalina.

12. Mesalma hrevirostris.

M. ab M. pardali scutis ventralibiis in 12 series longitudinales nee
10 ordinatis, capite breviore minusque depresso distingueuda.

Hab. in insula Tumb dicta sinus Persici, et ad Kalabagh
in regione Punjab

13. 3iesaiina par

M. pcraffinis M. pardaliy sed scutis ventralibus in series longitu-
dinales duntaxat 8 (nee 10) ordinatis, serie extrema utrinque
e scutis multo angustioribus composita.

Hah. in insula Henjam sen Angam dicta in sinu Persico.
Both the above are small lizards, closely allied to Mesalina

par

da Its .

from Persia and Baluchistan. 33

14. Acaiitliodactylus micro^jJiolis.

A, squamis dorsalibus carinatis, parvis, autice et ad latera minimis ;
scutis ventralihus in series longitudinales 10, extremis an-
gustioribus ordinatis ; poris femoralibus utrinque circiter 25 ;
digitis brevitcr fimbriatis ; scuto infraorbitali plerumqiie ad labrum

pertinente : siiperne griseus vel fiiscus, longitudinaliter albo

striatuSj membris albo maculatis: caeterum A. Cantoris similis*

Hah. in Gedrosia (Baluchistan).

This is distinguished from^. Cantoris ^\\^^ a fortiori^ from
A. Boshianus by its much smaller scales on the back, bj the
granular scales, resembling those of an Eremias^ on the back
of the neck, by the infraorbital shield resting on two supra-
labials instead of three or four and generally reaching the
lip, by being always striped even in old specimens^ &c.
Several specimens were procured.

Family Scincidae.

15. Ablepharus pusillus.
A. parvus graciHs, cauda corporis longitudinem fere duplam ffiquaute ;

scuto rostrali mediocri, nasalibus postfrontalibusque discretis,

snpraciharibus tribus anteriore maximo, prGSoccipitali (seu
parietali) unico, interoccipitali mediocri ; palpebris omnino absen-
tibus, annulo circumorbitah e squamis parvuhs composito ; meatu
auditorio parvo, hand denticulato ; squamis 20 circum medium
corpus, circiter 26 inter axillam et ingulnem.

Hah. ad Basrah, ad ripas fluminis Shat el Arab (Tigridis
cum Euphrate juncti).

Two suecimens obtained. It differs from Ablepharus

Brandtij Strauch {? A. agiUs^ Stoliczka), in the smaller
number of scales between the axils, Avhich are tifty in that
species.

Zygnopsis, gen. nov.

Genus affine Ojjhiomori, naribus inter duo scuta, alium supra, alium
infra, supranasalibus contiguis, sed membris quatuor debiHbus

prseditum.

16. Zygnoj)s{s hrevipes^

Z. corpora elongato,,pedibus brevibus, anticis digitis 4, posticis 3
instructis, capite conico, rostro rotundato ; scuto verticali magno,
postice latiore, ad latera emarginato ; occipitali magno, margine
anteriore concava, postica valde convexa ; prseoccipitalibus nullis ;
postoccipitalibus minoribus, oblique elongatis ; oculis parvis, palpe-

Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. xiv. 3

Mr. W- T. Blanford on new Rejytilia.

bris inferioribiis transparentibus, meatu auditorio externo nullo ;
squamis corporis laevibus, in series lungitudinales 22 ad medium
corpus dispositis : grisea, longitudinalitcr fusco fasciata.

Hah. baud procul a Karman in Persia meridionali.
A single specimen only was procured of this remar

new form.

Opiiidia.

17. Typhlojys ^^erszcz^;?.

T. purpurascenti-brunneus^ fere unicolor, subtus vix pallidior, antice
parum atteuuatus ; scuto rostrali medioeri, subtus parum augus-
tiore, fronto-nasale latitudine baud a^quante, nasali cum fronto-
nasali supra narem juncto, pra^oculari antice valde couvexo,
oculare lougitudine suba?quante, fronto-nasalibus post nasale ap-
proximatis, prsefrontali, frontali, iuterparietali, supraocularibus
parictalibusque suba^qualibus sqiiamas dorsalcs latitudine paiiUo
excedcntibus ; squamis corporis in 22-24 series lougitudinales
atque 376-390 transversas dispositis ; cauda brevi, mucronata^
9 seriebus squamarum circumdata.

Hah. in Persia meridionali.

Distinguislicd from T.vermicnlaris^ MeiTem, and T.syriacitSy
Jan, by its uniformly coloured scales, and from the former by
the division between the nasal and fronto-nasal shields not
extending above the nostril, by the head being longer in pro-
portion to its breadth, and by the rostral shield being broader
in proportion both above and below. In T. vermicularis the
fronto-nasal is narrower than the rostral ; in T. j^ersicKs the
reverse is the case.

18. Dimas rliino])6ma.

Z>. capitc brevi, depresso ; squamis corporis imbricatis in 23 (24)
seriebus longitudinalibus, serie media vix majore ; naribus valvuhs
instructis ; scutis supralabiaUbus 8-10, quarto quintoque oculum
tangentibus ; verticaU brevi, vix longiore quam lato, subtriangulari;
pra^ocularibus duobus, superiore ad verticale, inferiore ad nasale
attingente ; loreali distincto nullo ; scutis ventralibus 208-274,

auali baud bifido ; subcaudalibus 76-77 : pallida griseo-fusca,
transversim albido fasciata, squamis nigro puncticulatis.

Hctb. in Carmania.

Two specimens obtained : the largest measures 47*5 inches^

of which the tail is 6' 75. In one of the specimens the anal
shield is cleft, evidently by accident, the integument beneath
beina: also divided.

Oil a new Species of Skink. 35

Amphibia.

19. Bafo olivaceus.

B. ailfiiiis B, vindi B, vidgariqiie^ ab ambobus glauclulis parotoideis
majoribus, valde latioribus, ovalibiis, distinguendus ; dorso sub-
glabro ; supra pallide oMvaceus, subtus albescens.

Hab. in Geclrosia.
Four specimens taken.

Fuller descriptions and figures will be given in a forth-
coming work on the natural history of Persia.

T ^ 1. ^ -^■^^^Jfc-

VII. — Description of a 7iew Sjyecies of Skink. By A. W.
E. O'Shaughxessy, Assistant in the Natural History
Department of the British Museum.

CopJwscincus ohscurus^ sp. n.

Body tetragonal ; tail thick, round. Internasal very large,
covering the upper surface of the snout^ concave posterioidy.

Frontal narrow, triangular, rounded anteriorly j fronto-parietals

sejDarated j suf)raorbitals five, the fifth very small ;
rather large, almost quadrangular, with the front upper angle

Supralabials six ; infralabials four, narrow and long.
Ear-opening none. Lower eyelid not transparent. Fifty-

two scales in a longitudinal dorsal series, fifty in a ventral
one 5 twenty-two] scales in a sei'ies round the body j those on
the back larger. Number of scales between fore and hind
limbs about thirty-four. Preanal scales larger. Limbs small,
toes short.

Colour brown, with rows of black dots along the dorsal
series of scales, and a dark streak from the eye along the
upper lateral margin of the body to the tail.

This species evidently resembles closely the Lygosoma

scutirostrum^ Peters (Monatsber. Akad. Berl. 1873, p. 743),
but differs in the number of scales between the fore and hind
limbs, and in having no external ear.

, One specimen in the British Museum.

3

*