74 Messrs. C. K. Boettger and L. Miillor on 



Lacerta galloti ccesaris, Lehrs *. 



Lacerta ccesaris, Lehrs, Abstract of the Proceedings of the Zoological 

 Society of London, no. 134, p. 41 (1914). 



Type-locality. Island of Hierro. 



Very small, even the largest specimens not larger than 

 good specimens of Lacerta serjxi, Rat*. Female and young 

 specimens with very distinct stripes. 



The discovery of a pigmy race of L. galloti on Hierro 

 Island is very striking, the more so as one was inclined to 

 suppose that it was inhabited by L. simonyi, Steind., which, 

 however, was not procured, and obviously does not occur in 

 Hierro in our days. This new race proves to be very closely 

 related io L.g.gomerce,ivom\v\\\c\\ it has evolved by extreme 

 specialization. The size has been reduced and the markings 

 still more developed. The number of scales has also been 

 reduced, the ventrals being never more than 12, but only 10 

 in a greater percentage of specimens than in gamer ce. Maxi- 

 mum number of scales across middle of body 107. Tiiere 

 aie almost no interspersed granules. 6 pairs of large chin- 

 shields behind symphysial. 



As in gomerce there are dark males with only small spots 

 on a brownish-black ground. Blue shoulder-spots minute, 

 spots on thigh and upper arm well developed. Lower sur- 

 face, except that of tail, deep black. 



Light phase of males also as in gomerce, except that the 

 dark dorso-lateral bands are broader and with light spots and 

 intervals upon them. Posterior part of belly sometimes 

 bluish grey. 



? much as in gomerce \ dark bands broader and more 

 pronounced, generally deep dark brown; light stripes very 

 light, narrow and well defined almost for their entire length. 

 Throat and chest always black, belly greyish blue. 

 Youtig with light belly, throat ahvays black. 

 Length of head and body of the two largest measured 

 specimens : ^ 82 mm., ? 78 mm. 



Distribution. Island of Hierro ; one specimen collected on 

 the largest of the Roques del Zalmore. 



* After this paper had been finished, I received the Abstract of the 

 Proc. Zool. See. of Loudon, May 13th, 1914, where Dr. Lehrs described 

 the Hierro form of ^«//oii as a new species, Lacerta ccesaris. He based 

 his investigations on materials collected by myself at Las Lapas in the 

 Island of Hierio. I do not think it justified to regard this lizard as a 

 distinct species. Dr. Lehrs did not see how nearly his Lacerta ccesaris 

 comes to the subspecies of Lacerta galloti, especially to Lac. (jail, (jomercc. 

 I therefore regard ccesaris as the Hierro subspecies of Lacerta yalloti. 

 The coloration of ccesaris is, in nij' opinion, not a primitive one, but, 

 ou the contrary, is highly specialized. — C. 1\. Bobxtgeu. 



