740 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE SPECIES OF [JuilC 21, 



I. Genus Lacerta, Linn. 



As already observed by different authors, this genus has been 

 divided in a most unnatural manner by Gray. It will not be neces- 

 sary to discuss the characters of these so-called genera, the number of 

 which amounts to five, viz. Zootoca, Wagl., Lacerta, L., Thetia, Gray, 

 Teira, Gray, and Nueras, Gray. All these I consider to belong to 

 one genus. Notopholis, Fitz., which by some is united with Lacerta, 

 maj', I think, be kept apart, and ought perhaps to be united with 

 Algira, Cuv., as the recently discovered Zerzoumia blanci, Lataste ', 

 is a link connecting the two forms. 



Zootoca oxycephala (Schleg.), Gray. Cat. p. 29. 



The young specimen referred witb doubt to this species proves to be 

 Lacerta muralis. I have never seen an example of Z. oxycephala ; but 

 Bedriaga, in liis important paper -, shows that it is doubtless perfectly 

 distinct from L. muralis. 



Zootoca taurica (Pall.), Gray, Cat. p. 29. 



The British Museum did not possess this Lizard when the Cata- 

 logue was published. This species is now represented in the collec- 

 tion (3 2 s, Crimea). It bears great resemblance to L. vivipara. The 

 scutellation of the temple is the same in both. The collar is de- 

 cidedly toothed. The dorsal scales are granular, and perfectly smooth; 

 three transverse series correspond to a ventral plate. The ventral 

 plates are in six longitudinal series. The anal plate is surrounded 

 by two series of small plates. Femoral pores 18. The free edge 

 of the caudal scales is shortly pointed, the shape being thus inter- 

 mediate between that of L. vivipara and that of L, muralis, var. 

 fusca. 



Zootoca derbiana, Gray, Cat. p. 29. 



This species is identical with Lacerta galloti, D. & B., as had 

 been recognized by my late friend Arthur O'Shaughnessy. This 

 identification proves that the locality given with doubt "Australia? 

 Sydney?" is, as might have been expected, the result of misinfor- 

 mation. It is perhaps hardly necessary to observe that the diagnosis 

 given by Gray is, as usual, quite unrehable. First he states that 

 there are 12 rows of ventral shields in Z. derbiana, 12 or 14 in 

 Z. ffallotl ; the fact is, that in this respect the forms do not 

 differ from each other, the number of longitudinal series of plates 

 being 12 or 14. Then the " minute granules between the dorsal 

 scales," mentioned in Z. derhlann and not in Z. c/alloti, occur in 

 botli, and seem to be a sjjecific character, which, however, can be 

 ascertained only in specimens which have the skin somewhat dis- 

 tended. Finally it is stated tliat the middle series of ventral plates 

 are the largest ; it is the reverse. 



' ' Le Naturaliste,' 1880, p. 299. -' Arch. f. Naturg. 1880, p. 250, pi. xi. 



