Eremias. 329 



Upper caudal scales oblique, truncate, obtusely and dia<?onally 

 keeled, lower smooth; 32 to 40 scales in the fourth or fifth whorl 

 behind the postanal granules. 



The coloration varies greatly, and as the principal trpes correspond 

 with structural differences, although difficult of definition owing to 

 intermediate specimens, I think it desirable to distinguish the four 

 following forms : 



A. The typical form, of rather stout build, with the foot not longer 

 than the head, and the tail but little longer than head and body, well 

 deserves its name, the greyish or brownish upper parts being ornate 

 with numerous whitish black-edged ocellar spots, which are either 

 irregularly distributed or form 6 or 8 longitudinal series ; sometimes 

 the spots are enlarged and confluent into transverse bars, interrupted 

 on the vertebral line ; the outer ocelli on the body sometimes larger 

 in males, with blue centres ; white, dark-edged streaks may be present 

 on the temple and on the nape ; lower parts white. Some young with 

 11 dark streaks along the neck. 



B. Var. yarJmndensis, Blanf. Habit more slender, similar to 

 E. velox ; head more depressed, snout longer, foot longer, IJ to 1^- 

 times the length of the head, with more feebly keeled subdigital 

 lamellae, tail longer. Grey or bi'own above, with darker dots or 

 small spots Avhich may form regular longitudinal series or be confluent 

 into twai dorsal streaks ; a more or less distinct light, dark-edged 

 streak, from the superciliary edge, continued as a series of ocelli on 

 the body, these ocelli small or large ; in some males a second series of 

 ocelli, with blue centres, on each side, from above the shoulder ; sides 

 of throat and belly sometimes with l)lack dots. With 6 exceptions 

 out of 42 cases the subocular borders the lip. 



c. Var. saturata, Blanf. This form is described by Blanford as 

 much darker in colour and frequently with less distinct ocelli along 

 the side of the back, or these may be absent. The principal differ- 

 ence fi'om the var. yarkandensis is that the subocular is divided below 

 the eye and does not reach the mouth,* the lower detached portion 

 forming one or two additional upper labials (7th, 7th and 8th, or 8tli 

 and 9th) ; but in one out of 13 specimens examined by Blanford the 

 subocular borders the mouth. 



D. Var. l-oslowi, Bedr. As in the preceding, the subocular does not 

 reach the oral border. Males of robust form, with swollen cheeks. 

 Pale brown above, sometimes greenish, with three dorsal series of 

 blackish dots more or less confluent into streaks ; sides with blue, 

 black-edged ocelli ; tail red ; some green and red on the throat. 



* As is also the case in one of the specimens of the typical form from Sanja. 



