140 Lacertidse. 



most from the type are from Southern Tyrol and Carniola, the feebly 

 serrated collar coupled with a high number of scales (32-37) and of 

 femoral pores (12-15) approximating them to L. muralis var. brevi- 

 ceps, in which the head and limbs are comparatively short and the 

 number of scales (46-55) and femoral pores (13-16) low for the 

 species.''' 



So far as is known at present, this is the only species of the family 

 Lacertidse which has adopted the mode of parturition whence its name 

 is derived. As ovo-viviparous species occur alongside the oviparous in 

 most large families of lizards (G-eckonidae, Agamidse, Iguanidae, 

 Anguidse, Zonuridse, Scincidse, Chamaeleoutidae) in warm and 

 tropical countries, it cannot be argued that this mode of reproduction 

 is the result of climatic conditions ; but it has enabled the lizard to 

 extend its range to a more northern latitude than any of its congeners. 

 It is a suggestive fact that of the six Reptiles inhabiting G-reat 

 Britain, the only three which occur in Scotland are ovo-viviparous. 



12. LACEETA FRAASII. 



Lacerfa fraasii, Lehrs, Festschr. R. Hertwig, ii, p. 227, pi. xiv, 

 figs. 1-3 (1910). 



In form and proportions like L. vivipara. Hind limb reaching the 

 wrist of the adpressed fore limb. 



Rostral not touching the nostril ; suture between the nasals short ; 

 frontonasal broader than long, as broad as the internarial space ; 

 frontal slightly shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, a 

 little more than twice as long as its least width, a little broader in 

 front than behind ; parietals a little longer than broad, outer border 

 convex, not touching the upper postocular, in contact with a large 

 anterior and two or three small upper temporals ; occipital rather 

 large, somewhat shorter but broader than the interparietal. Four 

 supraoculars, first very small, fourth a little larger ; 5 superciliaries, 

 first longest ; 3-5 granules between the supraoculars and the super- 

 ciliaries. A single postnasal, in contact with the frontonasal ; a small 

 detached shield (" scutum subuasale ") between the nasal and the first 

 upper labial ; anterior loreal shorter than second ; 4 upper labials 

 anterior to the subocular, which is much narrower beneath than 



* We may recall, for curiosity's sake, Milne Edwards' diagnosis in 1829 

 (t.c, p. 84), where the number of pores was given as one of the principal 

 characters for the distinction of L. vivipara {schreihersiana) from L. muralis 

 viz. about 12 in the former and 18 to 25 in the latter. 



