Lacerta praticola, Lversm. 29 
one side and six on the other; in such case the median 
suture is formed by two shields on one side and three on 
the other. As the two forms differ also in other characters, 
such anomalous specimens can, however, easily be identified ; 
therefore the separation of L. praticola into two subspecies 
seems to be justified. 
Eversmann’s description and figure of the type-specimen 
from Piatigorsk * are not clear enough to settle the question, 
which of the two subspecies must be cousidered as the 
typical. A full description of the species was first given by 
Kessler +, who examined thirteen specimens from the Kuban 
district, Piatigorsk, valley of R. Bielaia, and Ananur, two 
of which formerly were in Eversmann’s collection. Kessler 
indicates six pairs of chin-slields, the first three forming a 
median suture. Relying on this, we intended to describe 
a Caspian ‘subspecies, believing the Western Caucasian 
form to be the typical one. 
Thanks to the kindness of MM. K. Derjugin and 
P. Nesterov we have been enabled to revise the collection 
of the Petrograd University. We found there several 
of Kessler’s specimens, and amongst them one labelled 
“ Piatigorsk, leg. Eversmann.” We must admit that 
Kessler neglected to examine the chin-shields of this very 
specimen, as it has only five pairs of them and agrees in 
every respect with the Talysh L. praticola. It ‘cannot, 
however, be considered as the type-specimen, because it has 
a normal interparietal and occipital, while Eversmann 
indicates these shields as separated by an accessory one. 
Both the type-specimen and the specimen preserved in 
the Petrograd University are from the same locality ; other 
material from Piatigorsk, Essentuki, and Kislovodsk { was 
kindly examined for us by M.S. Tsarevski. All these show 
only five pairs of chin-shields, two of them forming a median 
suture. ‘Therefore it is undeniably the Oriental subspecies 
which occurs at Piatigorsk and surrounding localities that 
must be considered as the typical L. praticola. 
It is of great interest that L. praticola praticvla seems to 
be confined to the Caspian Sea basin §, while the western 
* Lacertz Imperii Rossici (Moscow, 1854). 
+ Journey in Transcaucasia, St. Petersb., 1878, p. 156 (in Russian). 
¢ Coll. Acad. Petr. Nos. 5273, 6861, and 7900. 
§ We examined specimens from Pistigorsk, Mount Il near Vladi- 
kavkar, Lagodekhi, Kala-Dagna, valley of R. Astara-tshai, Elburz. 
Mountains between Astara and Ai -debil, Shafe-rud near Enzeli. 
