S8 BKITISH LIZARDS 



We have already defined the rostral (r.) ; it is seen 

 again from this lateral view of the head, and the same 

 applies to the nasals (n,), which are at once recognised 

 by the opening of the nostril through them. 



The superior labials (l.) are the scales which take 

 the place of the upper lip in snakes and Hzards. 

 Their number varies greatly even in the same species, 

 and very often is different on the two sides of the 

 head of the same specimen. Thus it is very common 

 in the adder to find eight upper labials on the right 

 side, and seven or nine on the left side. They are 

 often termed simply lip scales. Seven are represented 

 in the diagram, the three largest being those beneath 

 and posterior to the eye. 



Immediately above the eye will be noticed a row 

 of much smaller scales, which are named, from their 

 position, the supra-ciHary scales (sc). In front of the 

 eye are two scales of irregular shape, the loreals (lo. 

 and Lo'.), posterior and anterior. The word " loreal " is 

 derived from the Latin lorum, a thong or strap, the term 

 being originally applied to a corslet of leathern thongs, 

 which had a somewhat scaly appearance. Hence the 

 term " lore " in ornithology, to define the space be- 

 tween the bill and the eye which in some birds is bare 

 and devoid of feathers, hence scaly-looking. The word 

 has the same significance in the lizards, and refers to 

 the position of the scale between the eye and the 

 snout. A further development is from the Latin lorica, 

 a coat of mail, hence the order of reptiles, the Loricata, 



