ALLIED TO LACERTA MUEALIS. 



19 



plates overlapping, more or less distinctly detached from each other ou the posterior 

 border, in G or 8 longitudinal and 2 l to 31 transverse series (24 to 29 in males, 27 to 

 31 in females) ; the plates of tlie second series from the median line much broader 

 than the others ; the outer plates, when 8 series are present, 4 to § the size of those 

 of the adjacent series. 



Prieanal plate large *, bordered by one, rarely by two semicircles of smaller plates 

 or scales, none of which is much enlarged ; usually 6 to S scales bordering the 

 praeanal. 



Scales on upper surftice of tibia smaller than dorsals, strongly keeled, sometime^ 

 rugose with granular asperities f . 16 to 23 (usually 18 to 21) lamellar scales under 

 the fourth toe. 10 to 17 (usually 11 to 14) femoral pores on each side J. 



Caudal scales rather narrow and straight above and beneath, broader and more or 

 less oblique on the sides, dorsals and laterals strongly keeled, without or with rather 

 indistinct apical sensory pits, pointed posteriorly § ; the whorls nearly equal in length, 

 the fourth or fifth behind the postanal scales containing 24 to 36 scales. 



Lepidosis of middle of body, Lacerta agilis, 5 , from Berlin. 



The coloration and the markings are highly variable, and the latter cannot be well 

 understood without a knowledge of the var. exigua, which is evidently in a less 

 advanced condition in this respect. 



It has been stated that the young at birth is marked all over with yellowish white, 

 brown- or black-edged ocelli, irregularly distributed or with a mere tendency to form 

 longitudinal series, and that this livery represents the Seps argus of Laurenti. A 

 reference to Laurenti's description || and figure shows, however, that the young 

 examined by him had the ocelli disposed in regular longitudinal series. It is quite 

 true that some individuals show at birth a somewhat irregular disposition of the 

 ocelli, as also happens in the adult; but 1 am fully convinced that when this is the 



* Divided in a female from Odeiisjo, Sweden, and in another from Southport. 



t A male from Vienna ia in tliis respect very similar to L. mosoreiisis. 



i 8-9 in a male from Poole, Dorsetsliire, aceording to liell. 



§ In a male from Bournemouth, the point is as obtuse as in some specimens of the typical L. muralis. 



II "Ocelli medio tlavi, circulo nigro cincti : dorsales obsoletiores, minus distinct!; ad uiicham vagis, sed 

 extim® lineam affectant. Laterales distiuctissimic, in solo auroo-fulgid;e, in tres phalanges, quarum intima 

 utrinque imporfectior, ordinata;." 



