178 



Very closely allied to E. guitulata. Snout shorter, nasals strongly 

 swollen ; interparietal not in contact with the occipital, which is 

 minute. Ventrals in 12 longitudinal series, only the two median 

 distinctly broader than long. 



Hob. Tumb Island, Persian Gulf ; Punjab. 



200. Eremias velox. 



Lacerta velox, Pallas, Reise, i, p. 457. 



Eremias velox, Blanf. Zool. E. Pers. p. 374; Bouleny. Cat. Liz. iii, 



p. 97. 

 Eremias persica, Blanf. 1. c. p. 370, pi. xxvi, fig. 1. 



Head moderate; snout rather obtuse. Nasals swollen, the lower 

 usually in contact with the rostral ; frontonasal separated from the 

 rostral ; two prafrontals (occasionally with a small additional 

 median shield); two large supraoculars, with a smaller one in front 

 and behind, which are frequently broken up into small scales or 

 granules ; the length of the first principal supraocular equals or 

 exceeds its distance from the loreal ; the supraoculars usually in 

 contact with the frontal ; interparietal small ; no occipital ; 

 temporal scales granular, smooth ; no auricular denticulation ; 

 lower eyelid scaly ; subocular bordering the lip, usually between 

 the sixth and seventh upper labials ; the two or three first labials 

 in contact with the lower nasal. A more or less distinct transverse 

 gular fold, connecting the ears ; collar slightly curved, perfectly 

 free, with 9 to 11 plates. Dorsal scales granular, round, juxtaposed, 

 perfectly smooth, 50 to 65 across the middle of the body. Ventral 

 plates forming more or less regular oblique longitudinal, and 

 slightly angular transverse series ; the longest transverse series 

 contain 14 or 16 plates, which are as long as broad or a little 

 longer than broad. Praeanal scales usually small and irregular, 

 sometimes with a much enlarged posterior shield. The adpressed 

 hind limb usually reaches the collar, or between the latter and the 

 ear, in some female specimens not beyond the axil ; foot as long as 

 the distance between the arm and the centre of the eye, or the 

 anterior border of the orbit; an outer series of large subtibial 

 shields, which are more than thrice the size of the others. 17 to 

 25 femoral pores on each side, the two series sometimes nearly 

 meeting in the middle. Tail once and a half to twice as long as 

 head and body; upper caudal scales, at the base, more or le^s 

 distinctly keeled, or smooth ; basal subcaudals smooth. Young 

 blackish above, with whitish longitudinal lines along the back, and 

 round whitish spots on the sides and limbs ; these markings usually 

 disappear more or less completely in the adult, which are greyish 

 or brownish, spotted or longitudinally streaked with black, with or 

 without round whitish spots on the back, sides, and limbs ; some- 

 times a series of large blue and black ocelli on each side; lower 

 surface white, tail pink in the young. 



