6. PSAMMODUOMUS. 4? 



Algira, part., (rray, I. c. ; Latndc, I. c. 



Zcr/ouniia, Latuste, Le Nuturalisle, 1860, p. 2.')9 ; liedriaya, I. c. 

 p. 411. 



Ilead-shields normal. Nostril pierced between two nasals, in 

 contact witli the first labial or separated only by a narrow rim. 

 Lower eyelid scaly. Collar absent or very feebly marked ; a short 

 fold in front of the arm. Eack covered with large, rhombic, strongly 

 keeled and imbricate scales ; ventral shields smooth. Digits slightly 

 compressed, with tubercular or keeled lamelhe interiorly. Femoral 

 pores. Tail cylindrical. 



South-western Europe and opposite coast of Africa. 



The four species which are referred to this genus are closely allied, 

 and the following characters apply to all of them : — Snout moderately 

 long, obtuse ; supraoculars three, first largest, third smallest ; a 

 small additional shield is usually present, separating the first supra- 

 ocular from tlie loreal ; supraeiliaries in contact with the supra- 

 oculars ; occipital usually smaller than interparietal ; temporal scales 

 irregular, smooth or obtusely keeled; an enlarged tympanic plate; 

 no auricular denticulation ; one or two loreals ; subocular reaching 

 the lip (except in some specimens of P. his^janicus), between the 

 fourth and fifth labials. Gular scales strongly imbricate, gradually 

 increasing in size towards the pectoral plates ; the three anterior 

 pairs of chin-shields in contact. Lateral scales passing gradually 

 into the ventrals, which are in six straight longitudinal series. A 

 large praeanal plate, bordered by one or two series of smaller ones. 



Synojjsis of the Species. 



I, Collar distinguishable. 



Digits sharply keeled inferiorly 1. hispanicus, p. 47. 



Digits tubercularly keeled inferiorly .... 2. blanci, p. 48. 



II. No trace of a collar. 



Yentral plates of the median and outer 



series narrower than the others .... 3. microdactj/Jus, p. 49. 

 Ventral plates subequal 4. alginis, p. 50. 



1. Psammodromus hispanicus. 



Psammcdromus hispanicus, Gray, Cat. p. 38. 

 Psammodronms hit^panicus, Mtzing. N. Class. Rept. p. 52; Schreib. 



Hirp. Eur. p. 397 ; Camer. Mun. Saw. Ital. p. 90. 

 Lacerta edwardsiana, Dvyes, Ann. Sc. Nat. xvi. 1829, p. 386, pi. xiv. 

 Aspistis edwardsiana, Wac/I. Si/st. Amph. p. lo(J. 

 Notopliolis edwardsiana, iricf/in. Ilerp. Mex. p. 10. 

 ? Aloira punctata, Gray, Ann. N. II. i. 1838, p. 283. 

 Psammodromus edwardsii, Durn. 4" Btbr. v. p. 253. 

 edward-sianus, Bonap. Ayin. Sc. Nat, (2) xii. 1839, p. 62, 



pi. iv. A. fig. 2, and Faun. Ital. 



The suture between the rostral and the first labial falls below the 

 anterior border of the nostril ; subocular frequently not reaching 



