Algiroides. 339 



Head-shields normal. Nostril pierced between two or 

 three nasals, in contact with or narrowly separated from 

 the first upper labial. Low^er eyelid scaly. Collar well 

 marked. Dorsal scales large, imbricate, strongly keeled; 

 ventrals s(j[uarish, not or but feebly imbricate, smooth. 

 Digits feebly compressed, with smooth or tubercular 

 lamellse inferiorly. Femoral pores. Tail long, cylindrical. 



Southern Europe, Tropical Africa. 



This genus is very closely allied to Lacerta, differing only in the' 

 large, imbricate dorsal scales, a state of things foreshadowed by L. 

 princeps and L. atlantica. Although constituting, in a sense, a link 

 between Lacerta and Psamniodromus, none of the known species can 

 be looked upon as suggesting a phylogenetic connexion between any 

 of the members of these genera. 



The European species form a group distinct from the African, but 

 the close affinity which A. africantis appears to bear to A. nujro- 

 punctatus indicates a common origin, probably in S.W. Asia, 

 whence, however, no representative of the genus is known at present. 



I regard Bosca's A. hidalgi as probably identical with Ophiops 

 occidentalis, Blgr. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. European species. Usiially two superposed postnasals ; anterior iipper 



temporal in contact with fourth supraocular; temporal scales smooth 

 or very feebly keeled, usually with enlarged masseteric shield. 



A. Dorsal scales pointed, with straight keels, not or but slightly larger than 

 the laterals. 



15 to 19 scales across middle of body ; 9 to 14 femoral pores 



on each side ; 19 to 22 lamellar scales under the fourth toe ; 



hind limb not reaching axil ..... A.fitzingeri,Vi"iegm. 



20 or 22 scales across middle of body ; 12 to 16 femoral 



pores on each side ; 21 to 23 lamellar scales under the fourth 



toe ; hind limb reaching axil or shoulder in males . A. moreoticus, Bibi*. 



B. Dorsal scales rounded or obtusely pointed, diagonally keeled, 

 more than twice as large as the latei-als ; 22 to 28 scales 

 across middle of body ; 14 to 22 femoral pores on each side ; 

 22 to 27 lamellar scales xinder the fourth toe ; hind limb 



reaching axil or beyond A. nigt-opunctatus,!). & B. 



II. African species. A single postnasal ; parietal usually in contact with the 



upper postocular; temporal scales keeled, without enlarged ma.sseteric 

 shield; dorsal scales rounded or obtusely pointed, witli diagonal keels, 

 larger than the laterals. 

 A. A series of granules between the supraoculars and the superciliaries ; 

 dorsal scales strongly keeled. 



