Ophiops. 217 



Measuremeuts (iu uiilliuietres) of specimens from Basra : 



Frciin euil of snout to veut 



„ fore limb . 



Lengtli of head .... 



Widtli of head 



Depth of head 



Pore limb 



Hind limb 



Foot 



The known liabitat of the var. mizolepU is Palestine (Haifa), 

 Mesopotamia (Basra, Amara, Euphrates), and the Puujali (loweountrv 

 S.W. of Kalabao-h). 



Var. SCHLUETEEI, Boettger. 



This is the most distinct of the various forms grouped under 0. 

 ehgatis, and one might feel inclined to regard it as a valid species. 

 There is, Iiowever, such au overlap iuthe number of scales as compared 

 witli the typical form and no constancy in the other characters pointed 

 out in the original description, that it seems better to treat it as 

 a variety completely connected with the typical form and the var. 

 ehrenbergii. 



The proportions are the same as in the var. ehreitberijii, but the 

 dorsal scales are smaller, the posterior always much smaller than the 

 basal caudals, forming 10 to 14 longitudinal series between the hind 

 limbs ; 38 to 49 scales and plates round the middle of the body, usually 

 40 to 46.* The femoral pores are also moi-e numerous, 10 to 16 

 on each side, usually 11 to 15. t The temporal scales are iisually 

 smaller,:); and the upper temporal is sometimes single. The subocular 

 borders the moutli very narrowly, its lower border rarely more tlian 

 1 the length of the upper. A more or less distinct gular fold ; collar 

 usually better marked, but very rarely quite free. 



One specimen has a single postnasal, the two normal shields being 

 fused. Another has 7 pairs of chin-shields, the 4 anterior iu contact 

 in the middle. 



* I have counted the scales in UiO specimens from Cyprus, and noted 21 with 

 44, 16 with 42, 13 with 40, 11 with 45, 10 with 46, 10 with 41, .s witli 43. 

 3 with 48, 3 with 39, 2 witli 47, 2 with 38, and 1 with 49. 



t 79 times 13, 59 times 12, 25 times 11, 23 times 14, 8 time.s 15, 4 times IU, 

 and twice 10. 



t 50 to 90. 



