312 



Foot. . 22 2(1 22 19 2»t 16 



Tail . 



1. cj , W. Turkestan. 2. rj . Puli Hatiin, Traiiscaspia.. 3. ^, 

 Tchiuas, Turkesitan. 4. J , New CTulraii, Tiirkestau. 5. 9 . Tdiiiias. 

 6. 9 , Ferghana district. 



Hahilaf. — Asia Minor, Transcaucasiu and from the North and 

 East Coasts of the Caspian Sea to Chinese Turkestan, Western 

 Mongolia, Bokhara and North -Eastern Persia. 



Yar. PEESICA, Bhmford. 



The predominating form in Persia and N.W. Baluchistan is not 

 strictly a geographical variety, as Nikolsky has recorded the tjpical 

 E. velox from North-Easterii Persia, where it occurs alongside the 

 var. -persica* Although regarded by some as a distinct species, the 

 distinctive characters appear to me too slight to justify such a course. 

 The principal character resides in the smooth or olitusely keeled 

 caudal scales, which are also generally smaller on the hase of the 

 tail — 32 to 46 iu the fourth or fifth whorl. The size is usually larger, 

 and tlie limbs may exceptionally lie a little longer, sometimes reaching 

 the ear in males; iu one specimenf the foot is 1^ times as long 

 as the head. The frontonasal is usually longer iu proportion to its 

 width, exceptionally as long as broad, and 2 to 6 times as long as 

 tlie suture between the nasals above the rostral ; in three specimens 

 an azygos shield is piresent between the pi-efrontals ; the interparietal 

 is always much smaller than the frontoparietals; the lower nasal is 

 often extensively in contact with the rostral, J and very rarely separated 

 from it.§ 26 to 35 gular scales in a median longitudinal series. 

 54 to 72 scales across the middle of the body. 18 to 25 femoral pores 

 on each side. 



The young are striated as in the typical form. The adults have 

 the upper parts grey or brown, with round black spots, or with 

 longitudinal series of black dots, or streaked or irregularly spotted 

 as iu the typical form, usually with a black lateral band with small 

 or large white spots ; a dark vertebral streak is never present, except 



* Blaiiford's E. rehi.r from Gliilan iim.st be referred to this variety if the 

 absence of keels on the caudal scales is of any importance. 



t From W. of Ispahan. — Its measurements are here given, cciluiim 2. 

 X In 21 sjjecimens out of 48 examined. 

 § In .5 .specimens only. 



