of the Lizard Ophiops elegans, Men. 161 



from Haifa in Palestine examined by Boettgev are distin- 

 guished from all other Syrian individuals by the same 

 character. In view of the constancy of the single postnasal 

 in individuals from certain localities, I retain 0. mizolepis 

 under a varietal name, but provisionally only and with some 

 doubts as to its validity. 



I have examined two of Blanford's Basra specimens, as 

 well as two recently obtained at the same place by Col. Wall * 

 and one from Amara, Mesopotamia, received from Capt. P. A. 

 Buxton. 



Var. schlueteri. 



Ophiops schlueteri, Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1879-80, p. 176, pi. iii. 

 fig. 3. 



This is the most distinct of the various forms grouped 

 under 0. elegans, and one might feel inclined to regard it as 

 a valid species. There is, however, an overlap in the 

 numerical character of the scales as compared with the 

 typical form, and no constancy in the other characters 

 pointed out in the original description ; so that it is better to 

 treat 0. schlueteri as a .variety, completely connected with 

 the typical form and the var. ehrenbergii. 



The dorsal scales are small, the posterior always much 

 smaller than the basal caudals; they form 10 to 14 longitu- 

 dinal series between the hind limbs ; 38 to 49 scales and 

 plates round the middle of the body, usually 40 to 46. The 

 femoral pores number 10 to 16 on each side, usually 11 to 15. 

 The temporal scales are usually smaller than in the typical 

 form (50 to 90 instead of 34 to 63, 27 to 50 in the var. 

 ehrenbergii). A more or less distinct gular fold ; collar 

 usually distinct, but very rarely quite free. The subocular 

 borders the mouth very narrowly, its lower border is rarely 

 more than one-fourth the length of the upper. One specimen 

 has a single postnasal instead of two. 



This variety is confined to Palestine (I have examined 

 specimens from Mt. Hermon and Baalbeck) and Cyprus. It 

 should be regarded as, on the whole, the most primitive of the 

 forms included under O. elegans. 



" In two specimens .... the lower nasal is joined to the lower postnasal, 

 so that the nasal shields resemble those in Chondrophiops l=Gymnops^ 

 or Eremias." 

 * Preserved in the collection of the Bombay Natural History Society. 



