PSAMMODROMUS EDWARDSII. 198 



genus Lacerta ; on the back, and all the upper parts of the 

 body and flanks, the scales are very large, rhomboid, keeled, 

 and tiled ; the scales of the tail are also keeled and tiled, 

 and are disposed in lings ; ventral plates in eight rows, 

 rhomboid, except in the two central rows, which are nar- 

 rower than the others; they form from twenty- eight to 

 thirty transverse rows ; the pre-anal plate is lozenge- 

 shaped, with a small scale on either side ; on each thigh 

 are from twelve to fifteen tubular pores ; the lower parts 

 of the body are whitish, with changeable reflexions ; the 

 upper parts bluish or reddish grey ; the head, as it were, 

 powdered with dark brown, especially near the margins of 

 the plates ; the upper eyelids black ; along each side of 

 the back are three parallel streaks of a yellowish hue, 

 interrupted at intervals by spots of white or yellow ; on 

 either side of these spots is a large black or bro^vn dot ; 

 the tail is grey ; on the upper part of the legs are round, 

 whitish spots edged with brown, forming on each thigh 

 two or three transverse rows. In some light-coloui^ed 

 specimens there is on each temple a white spot, and a 

 bright bluish-green spot over the shoulder. The young 

 are generally tinged with blue ; when the animal is old, 

 it becomes reddish, with the scales larger and rougher. 

 Two varieties may be distinguished, according to the pre- 

 dominance of the pale streaks before named, or of the 

 spots by which they are interrupted. 



Entii'e length, about 6 inches ; tail, 4 inches. 



Yeiy abundant in Spain ; not uncommon in the South 

 of France ; rare near Nismes, but common at Aigues-mortes 

 and Montpellier, both in hilly places and near the stagnant 

 waters along the coast. In Italy, Prince Buonaparte re- 

 stricts it to the western frontier. 



