1884.] OF LACERTA VIRIDIS FROM SOUTH PORTUGAL. 419 



believed, but constituted a distinct form, intermediate between the 

 latter and L. viridis, wbicli he named L. ocellata pater. He showed 

 that the occipital is smaller than in L. ocellata, the dorsal scales 

 more oval, and sometimes slightly keeled, and the ocelli, which are 

 constantly present in the young, "frequently disappear in the adult. 

 The discovery of these two forms had already considerably dimi- 

 nished the gap separating L. ocellata from L. viridis; but forms 

 which would fill the interval remaining between the latter and L. 

 schreiberi and pater were still missing. As one of these I regard 

 the Lizard discovered by Dr. Gradow. 



The general proportions and lepiilosis being the same as in the 

 typical L. viridis (from France and Italy), I will only mention 

 the distinctive peculiarities, at the same time drawing attention to 

 the points in which the new variety approaches the other allied 

 forms. 



The occipital is considerably larger, nearly as long as, and broader 

 than, the interparietal ; its shape is trapezoid, its smaller border 

 forming a suture with the latter ; in two specimens this suture has 

 entirely disappeared and the two plates are united. Another 

 anomaly, occurring in three out of the four specimens, is the presence 

 of an azygos shield between the prefrontals. In the young, as in 

 other Lizards, the interparietal is relatively much enlarged, especially 

 transversel}^ so that it considerably exceeds in size, and equals in 

 width, the occipital. We know that in the very young L. ocellata 

 the interparietal exceeds in size the occipital, and nearly equals it in 

 width, whereas in the adult the occipital is many times larger than 

 the interparietal and at least three times as broad. In L. pater, 

 when young, the interparietal also exceeds the occipital in size and 

 is as broad or a little narrower ; when adult, the occipital is much 

 larger than the interparietal and twice as broad. In L. schreiberi, 

 wliich, if adult, must be regarded as a form Avith arrested de- 

 velopment, descended from L. ocellata or some close ally, the 

 interparietal is very large, and the occipital short and only a little 

 broader. 



When a large series of X. viridis is examined, we find great varia- 

 tion in the size and shape of the occipital, so that the character just 

 insisted upon cannot be regarded as constantly distinguishing the 

 new form ; however, it may be sufficient to distinguish it from the 

 typical L. viridis as occurring in Spain. 



The dorsal scales are a little diflereut from those of L. viridis, 

 being smaller, less distinctly rhomboidal, more oval, and not so 

 strongly keeled, all points in which they approach those of L. schrei- 

 beri. I count 111 to 116 scales along the middle of the back, from 

 the occipital to the base of the tail, and 50 to 53 across the middle of 

 the body; in L. viridis fijpns I obtain the numbers 100 to 103 and 

 41 to 45. However, some Oriental specimens of L. viridishsive also 

 smaller scales, viz. 125 longitudinally and 50 transversely, but then 

 they are of a different shape, being but a little longer than broad; 

 and it is probable that the Oriental small-scaled L. viridis, when 

 properly worked out, will prove to constitute a distinct race. 



