18/2.] HIMALAYAN, AND OTHER REPTILES. 383 



keel in the centres, whilst the smaller ones, which are the most nu- 

 merous, are also rounded, but more conical or tubercular than keeled. 

 All the surfaces of the neck very finely tubercular, with numerous 

 little patches of rounded, enlarged, and, in some cases, spiny tuber- 

 cles, which occur also above and further back than the shoulder. 



Fig. 4. 



Stellio persicus. 



Large strongly keeled scales on the upper surface of both limbs. A 

 few large spined scales along the posterior upper margin of the 

 thigh. Toes long and tapering (5" 5'"), clawed, slightly compressed, 

 with transverse plates on the under surface, with a strong spine on 

 the angle formed by the lateral and anterior margin. Throat more 

 coarsely granular than the neck ; the rest of the under surface 

 covered with very small rhomboidal, slightly imbricate, smooth 

 scales, in transverse rows, as many as fifty in a row, across the 

 middle of the belly. No femoral or preanal pores. Tail slightly 

 swollen at the base, surrounded with regular verticils of strongly 

 keeled scales. Head rather broad ; snout short and moderately 

 pointed. Loreal region concave. Nostril round, in a triangular 

 nasal below the canthus rostralis, nearer the end of the snout than 

 the eye, and separated from the upper labials by three longitudinal 

 rows of scales. Three scales between the nasal and rostral. A line 

 of large, more or less linear, keeled, tubercular scales from below the 

 anterior angle of the eye, under the eye to over the ear, where they 

 form a group of large tubercular-like plates. Area in front of and 

 below the ear very finely granular, with large spiny shields at the 

 anterior and inferior margins of the ear. Upper surface of the head 

 covered with numerous small shields, a group of prominent ones in 

 the middle of the frontal region, and another and more extended 

 series on the occiput. All the scales and shields on the snout and 

 sides of the head have numerous dark-brown dots on their margins. 

 Upper labials 12, low and long; 13 lower labials, which are higher 

 and shorter than the upper ones. Several rows of small shields pa- 

 rallel to the lower labials. Mental shield with a small azygos shield 

 behind it, and an enlarged shield on each of its sides, and in contact 

 with the front labial, with a line of five to six enlarged scales behind 

 each. Skin of neck loose, thrown into numerous folds ; a strong 

 fold from below the ear to the shoulder, and another below it again ; 

 small folds on the nape ; two transverse folds on the under surface 



