178 SAURIA. 



simple ; tlie rostral-plate is five sided ; the two upper 

 sides rather large, forming an obtuse angle ; the laterals 

 short and perpendicular, the lower side much extended ; 

 the fore-legs, when placed along the neck, do not quite 

 reach to the end of the nose ; the hind-legs, laid along the 

 sides, reach to the origin of the fore-legs ; there is a single 

 plate under the chin, and four pairs of plates under the 

 lower jaw, increasing gradually in size from the first pair 

 to the last ; the whole of the upper surface of the body 

 and tail is covered with angular scales, much imbricated, 

 pointed behind, and distinctly keeled ; from one side of the 

 belly to the other, over the back, are about twenty-five 

 longitudinal rows of scales ; all the lower parts are pro- 

 tected by angular, smooth, flat scales, more or less rounded 

 at their free edges ; on the belly these are arranged in six 

 longitudinal rows ; the tail is one-and-a-half times longer 

 than the rest of the body; the femoral pores are from fifteen 

 to eighteen on each side, each surrounded by three scales, one 

 of which IS smaller than the other two ; the pre-anal region 

 is nearly covered by a large pentagonal smooth plate ; the 

 upper parts of the body ai'e coppery, or tawny brown, with 

 green or gold reflexions, often very brilliant in the adult ; a 

 gilded streak of whitish yellow extends on each side, from 

 the crown of the head to the side of the tail, and another 

 like streak from the angle of the mouth to the groin ; 

 these streaks are sometimes spotted with black ; on each 

 temple is a line of golden yellow ; behind the shoulders are 

 generally several blue and black specks ; the parts beneath 

 the body are whitish, wdth gold and green reflexions. 



Entire length, about 10 inches. 



This Lizard inhabits most of the European and African 

 coasts of the Mediterranean, Italy, Spain, and the South of 

 France. It is rare, however, in the 'Pyrenees and Provence ; 

 is found also in the Island of Sardinia. 



