LACERTA.] REPTILIA SAURIA. 293 



before : temples covered with small plates : abdominal 

 lamellae in six rows : fore feet with the fourth toe longest : 

 femoral pores from nine to eleven. 



L. agilis, Berkenh. Syn. vol. i. p. 56. Sheppard in Linn. Trans. 

 vol. vn. p. 49. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 79. Flem. Brit. An. p. 150. 

 Scaly Lizard, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. in. p. 21. pi. 2. no. 7. 



DIMENS. Entire length from six inches to six inches nine lines. 

 Relative proportions very variable. 



DE SCRIPT. (Form.) In every respect smaller, and more slender, than 

 the L. Stirpium : snout rather sharper : head more depressed, with the 

 superciliary plates raised above the level of the crown: occipital plate 

 very small'; frontal large, as broad at its posterior as at its anterior mar- 

 gin : temples covered with small plates, more numerous than in L. Stir- 

 pium : collar composed of nine nearly equal lamellae, with the posterior 

 margin entire: pectoral triangle ill-defined, the lamellae crowded together 

 in an irregular manner : abdominal lamellae in six longitudinal rows ; the 

 two middle rows a little narrower than the adjoining ones, with the 

 lamellae in these rows approaching to square or rectangular: dorsal 

 scales rather narrower than in the L. Stirpium ; not carinated, or with 

 the keel very obsolete : caudal scales similar, but the keel of these also 

 less strongly marked ; the terminal point of each scale is likewise more 

 obtuse, causing the whorls to appear less crenated : feet much slenderer 

 than in the above species; the fore feet with the fourth toe a little longer 

 than the third ; claws small, and not more developed before than behind : 

 thighs scarcely compressed ; the number of femoral pores tolerably con- 

 stant, generally nine, sometimes ten, rarely eleven. The following are 

 sexual distinctions. In the male, the tail and legs are longer in propor- 

 tion to the body ; the former is nearly (in some specimens quite) two- 

 thirds of the entire length ; the hind leg, applied to the side of the 

 abdomen, reaches to, or passes beyond, the carpus of the fore foot : the 

 ante-anal lamella is shorter and broader, or more transverse : the under 

 side of the base of the tail is flattened, with a slight longitudinal depres- 

 sion in the middle just behind the vent; during the season of sexual 

 excitement the base of the tail is much dilated at the sides, appearing 

 swollen. In the female, the abdomen is longer, and the tail shorter, tha 

 latter being often not more than half the entire length : the hind leg 

 barely reaches to the tips of the claws of the fore foot : the ante-anal 

 lamella is longer in proportion to its breadth, and of a more decided hex- 

 agonal or pentagonal form : the base of the tail is rounded, and convex 

 underneath, and never dilated at the sides*. (Colours.) Extremely 

 variable. Upper parts generally cinereous brown, more or less dark, often 

 tinged with bluish green ; a dark list down the middle of the back, with 

 parallel fasciae at the sides ; these last broader than the former, com- 

 mencing behind the eyes, and sometimes extending to near the extre- 

 mity of the tail ; between the mesial list and lateral fasciae, are one or 

 more rows of black spots, and sometimes the same number of yellow 

 ones : under surface of the body and base of the tail, and sides of the 

 abdomen, in the male, bright orange, more or less spotted with black ; in 

 the female, generally pale yellowish green without spots. Obs. In some 

 individuals, the whole of the upper parts are plain cinereous brown, with- 

 out any markings whatever. 



* Some of the above distinctions were first pointed out by Mr. Gray in a communication made 

 to the Zoological Society, in May 1832. (See Proceed, of Zool. Soc. 1832. p. 112.) I have myself 

 since examined a large number of individuals, and confirmed the accuracy of them. 



