98 LACEETID^. 



shield) ; frontal usually feebly grooved anteriorly ; two large supra- 

 oculars, with a smaller one in front and behind, which are frequently 

 broken up into small scales or granules ; the length of the first prin- 

 cipal supraocular equals or exceeds its distance IVom the loreal ; the 

 supraoculars usually iu contact with the frontal ; interparietal small ; 

 no occipital ; temporal scales granular, smooth ; usually an elongate 

 scale on the supero-anterior border of tlie ear ; no auricular deiiti- 

 culation ; lower eyelid opaque ; subocular bordering the lip, usually 

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

 labials in contact with the lower nasal ; the three, or rarely four, 

 anterior pairs of chin-shields in contact. A more or less distinct 

 transverse gular fold, connecting the ears ; not more than 30 gular 

 scales on a line extending from the collar to the suture between 

 the chin-shields ; collar slightly curved, perfectly free, with 9 to 

 11 plates. Dorsal scales granular, round, juxtaposed, perfectly 

 smooth, 50 to do 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 ; 29 to 34 transverse series. 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 less distinctly keeled, or smooth ; basal subcaudals smooth. 

 Toung blackish above, with whitish longitudinal lines along the 

 hack, and round whitish spots on the sides and limbs ; these mark- 

 ings 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 ; sometimes a series of large blue and black ocelli on each 

 side ; lower surfaces white. 



millim. millim. 



Total length 170 197 



Head 17 17 



Width of head 12 12 



From end of snout to fore limb .... 27 28 



From end of snout to vent 70 72 



Fore limb 28 28 



Hind limb 44 41 



Tail 100 125 



Southern llussia, Transcaucasia, Turkestan, Persia, Baluchistan, 

 Afganistan. 



, 



