1891.] MR. G. A. BOTJLENGER ON LACERTA SIMONYI. 201 



comparatively short and broad proportions — the same feature by 

 which the dorsal shield of Homosteus is most conspicuously distin- 

 guished from that of Coccosteus ; and it may be added that if the 

 originals of figs. 3 and 4 are correctly determined as anterior median 

 ventral and ventro-lateral respectively, they represent a fish of ex- 

 actly the same size as that indicated by the occipital plates with 

 which they are associated. 



In conclusion, the new evidence seems to show that the "cranial 

 shield " of Homosteus extended backwards far beyond the hinder 

 extremity of the brain ; while there are suggestive indications of the 

 ventral shield having been as remarkal)ly short and broad as the 

 dorsal. The last mentioned result is exactly such as might have 

 been anticipated ; but the former, if substantiated by further dis- 

 coveries, presents some novel features for investigation. 



2. On Simony^s Lizard, Lacerta simonyi. 

 By G. A. BouLENGER, F.Z.S. 



[Eeceived March 3, 1891.] 

 (Plates XVIII. & XIX.) 



The largest of the three specimens of Z.acerf a siw.0Hyi,Steindachner*, 

 obtained by Canon Tristram on the Rock of Zalmo, near Hierro, 

 Canary Islands, and presented to the Society by Lord Lilford, 

 liaving recently died, has been acquired by the British Museum. I 

 propose to give a description and figure of this rare Lizard as a 

 supplement to Dr. Steindachner's account. The specimen here 

 described is a male. 



Physiognomy and general proportions of Lacerta ocellata. Head 

 large, with swollen cheeks ; snout moderately long, obtuse. Rostral 

 entering the nostril ; a single postnasal, in contact with the first 

 and second labials ; frontal as broad as long, not quite as long as the 

 frontoparietals ; supraoculars separated from the supraciliaries by a 

 series of granules ; interparietal very narrow, as long as the occipital ; 

 occipital large, trapezoid, its posterior border two thirds the width 

 of the frontal ; five upper labials anterior to the subocular ; temple 

 covered with large irregular shields ; a narrow elongate shield on 

 the upper anterior border of the ear ; the so-called masseteric 

 shield more or less enlarged. Gular fold absent ; 34 gular scales 

 on a line between the collar and the third pair of chin-shields; 

 collar with serrated edge, composed of 13 plates. Dorsal scales 

 small, oval, strongly keeled, separated from one another by minute 

 granules ; 90 scales across the middle of the body ; two or three 

 series of scales on the sides correspond to one ventral plate. Ventral 

 plates square in tbe middle, longer than broad on the sides, in 20 

 longitudinal and 34 transverse series. Prseaual plate bordered by 

 three semicircles of small plates. The hind limb reaches the axilla. 



1 Anz. Ak. Wien, 1889, p. 260. 



