Latastia. 27 



Scales grauular on the uape, larger, oval-hexagoual or rhombic, 

 juxtaposed, aud obtusely or more or less strougly keeled* ou the body, 

 the scales a little larger and smooth towards the belly ; 52 to 80 scales 

 across the middle of the body, usually 55 to 65, 28 to 40 in a transverse 

 series between the hind limbs. Ventral plates overlapping, with the 

 postero-iuner angle oblicjuely truncate, in 6. rarely 8, longitudinal 

 series, the plates sometimes nearly equal in the 6 series, sometimes 

 increasing in width from the median to the outer; if in 8 series, the 

 outer plates small ; 25 to 33 transverse series, usually 26 to 29 in 

 males, 29 to 31 in females ; a group of 5 to 29 small irregular plates 

 usually present in the middle of the pectoral region. Males usually 

 with an enlarged preaual plate, about twice as broad as long, with 

 numerous small plates in front and on the sides ; females with the 

 ]ireanal region covered with small irregular plates. 



A series of 6 to 9 large transverse plates under the forearm, some- 

 times divided into two series. Scales ou upjser surface of tibia rhombic, 

 keeled, usually smaller than dorsals. 5 to 16 femoral pores on each 

 side, the reduction in the number taking place from the distal end, the 

 series often restricted to the basal third or half of the thigh. t Sub- 

 digital lamellae biearinate. 22 to 28 under the fourth toe, usually 

 23 to 27.: 



Caudal scales in subequal or alternately somewhat longer and 

 shorter whorls, upper rather oblique and diagonally aud strougly 

 keeled, truncate behind, lower smooth ou the basal part of the tail ; 

 30 to 38 scales in the fourth or fifth whorls behind the small postanal 

 scales. 



The coloration varies enormously. The ground colour varies from 

 pale grey to brown, reddish-brown or brick-red. Some specimens are 

 handsomely marked with dark and light shades and spots or bars, 

 others are of a pale greyish sand-colour, with all the markings much 

 effaced. There may be four narrow light streaks on the upper 

 surface of the neck aud body, the outer proceeding from the super- 

 ciliary edge, and two broader light streaks ou each side, the upper 

 originating behind the eye, passing above the tympanum, and extending 

 to the base of the tail, the lower from the upper lip, passing through 



* The degree of carination varies considerably, irrespective of otlier charac- 

 ters, the keels being' often more feeble in females than in males ; the most 

 obtuse keels are found in a female from Joba, Abyssinia, which, in this respect, 

 hardly differs from L. hoscte. 



t This striking range of variation is nearly jjaralleled in Eremia lineo-ocellata. 



X A specimen from Sheik Othman, near Aden, with ;i2, stands perfectly 

 isolated ; but no other specimens are known from that locality to connect with 

 the lower numbers, 25 to 28, recorded from El Kubar, also in S.W. Arabia. 



