, Lacerta. 145 



broader in front than behind, as long as or a littk^ longer than its 

 distance from the end of the snout, as broad as or a little broader 

 than the supi'aoculars ; occipital shorter but broader than the inter- 

 parietal * ; parietals with the outer border straight or eniargiuate in 

 front, usually not touching the upper postocular. Supraoculars as in 

 L. vivijJara, second longer than third ; 4 to 7 superciliaries, first 

 largest; a series of 2 to 12 (usually 4 to 9) granules between the 

 supraoculars and the superciliaries, the series sometimes complete. 

 A single postnasal, sometimes not reaching the frontonasal ; anterior 

 loreal nearly as long as or shorter than the second ; 3 to 4 upper 

 labials anterior to the subocular. A large anterior upper temporal, 

 usually in contact with the fourth supi-aocular; temporal scales rather 

 large, with distinct masseteric and tympanic shields, the masseteric 

 often very large and in contact with the upper temporal. 



Pterygoid teeth absent. 



17 to 21 gular scales between the symphysis of the chin-shields and 

 the median collar-plate t ; gular fold distinct. Collar strongly serrated,, 

 composed of 4 to 8 plates, rarely 11. 



Dorsal scales large, elongate-hexagonal or rounded, smooth or feebly 

 keeled, increasing in size towards the ventrals, 38 to 46 across the 

 middle of the body J ; 2 or 3 scales on the sides correspond to a 

 ventral plate. Ventral plates in 6 longitudinal series, those of the 

 second series fi-om the median line much broader than the others,, 

 and in 22 to 27 tranverse series, 22 to 26 in males, 23 to 27 in females ; 

 the posterior border of the transverse series feebly notched, sometimes 

 very indistinctly. Preanal shield large, bordered by a single semicircle 

 of 7 to 10 small shields, rarely by two. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia feebly keeled, much smaller than 

 dorsals. 6 to 12 femoral pores on each side. 21 to 25 lamellar scales 

 under the fourth toe. 



Caudal scales in alternately longer and shorter whorls, upper 

 obtusely pointed and keeled, lower smooth in the basal part of the tail ; 

 22 to 26 scales in the fourth or fifth whorl. 



G-reyish brown or coppery brown above, with or without small 

 dark brown spots, and constantly with a dark brown lateral band, 

 which may be light-edged above ; sometimes a series of small dark 

 spots along the vertebral line ; an ocellar spot with light centre some- 

 times present above the shoulder § ; a light streak from below the eye- 



* Sometimes only as broad, according to Mehely. 

 t 15 to 18 according to Nikolsky. 

 X Up to 53 according to Nikolsky. 

 § According to Mehely. 



