1881.] LACERTA AND ACANTHODACTYLUS. 741 



ZooTOCA DESERTi, Guiitlier, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 470, 

 As has been supposed by Lataste ', this species belongs to the 

 genus Acanthodactylus . 



ZooTocA TRisTRAMi, Glmthcr, p. Z. S. 1864, p. 491, 

 is likewise an Acanthodactylus. 



ZooTOCA DANFORDi, Giinther, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 818. 



Doubts having been expressed by Bedriaga ^ as to the distinctness 

 of Podarcisjudaica, Camerano (—Lacerta Icevis, Gray), from Z.dan- 

 fordi, I think it useful to give a detailed description of the fine spe- 

 cimens in the British Museum. From this it will appear that the 

 species are, without doubt, perfectly distinct from each other. 



Shape and general proportions as in L. muralls, var. neopolltana, 

 but the neck a little thicker, as broad as the head (in the adult 

 L. Icevis the neck is broader than the head). Postnasals 2, regu- 

 larly superposed ; upper labials 7 or 8, 5 before, and 2 or 3 behind 

 the infraocular ; 6 or 7 lower labials ; 5 pairs of chin-shields, the 

 3 anterior in contact. The woodcut accompanying Giinther' s de- 

 scription represents the mental divided into two ; this is a mistake, as 

 not one out of the nine specimens shows any thing of the kind. 

 Boettger ^ is therefore wrong when, judging from this drawing, he 

 assigns 6 chin-shields to L. danfordi, and mentions this amongst 

 the characters differentiating this Lizard from L. judaica. Temple 

 covered with small granular scales, either without or with a very 

 small masseteric plate (in L. Icevis this plate is always present, and 

 very large) ; a curved tympanic plate, similar to that of L. muralis 

 and L. Icevis. Occipital plate not broader than interparietal (broader 

 than interparietal in L. hevis). The collar has its free edge even, 

 and is formed of 9 or 10 plates. Dorsal scales round, granular, 

 perfectly smooth, even on the hinder part of the back (hexagonal 

 and distinctly keeled on the hinder part of the back in L. lewis) ; 

 three transverse series correspond to a ventral plate. 23 to 27 pec- 

 toral plates. Sis longitudinal and 24 to 27 transverse rows of ventral 

 plates, the two central longitudinal rows narrovv'er than the others ; 

 sometimes an additional series of smaller plates on each side (22 to 25 

 transverse rows in i/. ^fptjzs). Anal plate small, much smaller than 

 in L. Icevis, surrounded by tworowsof small plates. Femoral pores, 

 21-25 in c?, 19-21 in $ (the specimens of L. Icevis in the British 

 Museum possess 20-21 in (S , 10-17 in $ ). An important sexual 

 character, which I have not met with in any other Lacerta, is the 

 great dilatation, in the males, of two scales at the base of the tail 

 at a short distance from the vent, similar to the sexual scales of 

 many Iguanidse. Scutellation of the tail as in L. jimralis and 

 Z. Icevis. 



The coloration (in spirits) is also different from that oiL. muralis, 

 var. fusca and L. Icevis, to both of which it bears, however, at first 

 sight, great resemblance. Upper surface greenish brown. Head 



1 ' Le Naturaliste,' 1881, p. 358. - Arch. f. Katurg. 1879, p. 312. 



3 Ber. Seuckenb. Ges. 1879-1880, p. 172. 



