334 MR. E. G. BOULENGER ON THE 



records such a one from Bilbao. But in addition we find highly 

 remarkable specimens ranging from tlie form named var. gallaica 

 by Seoane (29), Avhich is hardly separable from the typical form, 

 especially its North African representatives, to that named var. 

 molleri by Bedriaga, which approaches very closely some speci- 

 mens from nea,r Genoa, from Austria, described by Kammerer 

 (c/. p. 342), and from Oran, Algeria, described by Doumergue *. 

 My father has already proposed to unite the var. gallaica with the 

 var. molleri, a view in which Bedriaga (3, p. 109) could not concur, 

 on the ground that Seoane's diagnosis does not at all agree with his 

 own. It is, nevertheless, a fact that an almost uninterrupted series 

 can be traced between the two varieties, and I think it advisable, 

 provisionally at least, to regard them as extremes of one and the 

 same form, which is completely linked with the typical form. 



The following is a translation of Seoane's definition of the 

 Spanish specimens (var. gallaica) : — " DiflJeis from the typical form, 

 among other characters, in the intense black of the ground-colour 

 and the small number of yellow spots, distributed over the 

 body." 



The three specimens from Galicia [Seoane) in the Lataste 

 Collection are remarkable for the very irregular, broken-up 

 disposition of the spots on the back, a few of which are partly 

 brownish and may have been edged with red or pink, in a manner 

 similar to Bedriaga's var. molleri. The snout, supraocular and 

 intei'orbital regions, partly yellow, partly reddish brown ; yellow 

 on the throat somewhat predominating over the black ; sides 

 irregularly spotted with yellow. The number of spots on the 

 dorsal region of these specimens is 9, 13, and 26 respectively. A 

 specimen from Cabanas, Galicia (Seoane), preserved in the Paris 

 Museum and of which a sketch has kindly been made for me by 

 Mme. Phisalix, approaches very closely the Portuguese var. 

 molleri. The British Museum specimen from Vigo differs, how- 

 ever, from all the above by being very scantily marked with 



* Essai sur la Fauiie Erp^tologique de I'Oranie (Oran, 1901), p. 372. 



" Corps presentant eu dessus plusieuvs taches jauiies et rouges sans symetvie 

 doiit voici la distribution, liegions sus-oculaires jaunes en dessus et d'un rouge sang 

 en avant et eu arriere. Arcades sourcilieres d'un noir rougeatre. Parotides jaunes 

 en dessus et aussi en dessous posterieuremeut, entourees de noir en avant ; exte- 

 rieureinent elles sont bordees depuis I'oBil jusque sur le cou, d'une loiigue et large 

 taclie rouge. Seules les taches des regions sus-oculaires et celles des parotides pi'e- 

 sentent quelque symetrie. Sur le cou se trouve une grande taclie transversale 

 echancree en avant, a laquelle font suite, sur le dos, quatre taches irregulieres (de 7 

 mill, sur 3 en moyenne). Ces taches alternent entre elles et touchent la double ligne 

 dorsale de tubercules ; elles sont a peu pres a egale distance I'une de I'autre. Pres 

 de I'aisselle, sur le bras, il y a une petite taclie jaune bordee de rouge ; une ou deux 

 tres petites, jaunes et rouges, se voient sur Tavaiit bras, et une seule sur les mains et 

 les pieds. Le fond noir des flancs est parsem^ de quelques points rouges. Membres 

 post^rieures taches comme les ant(5rieurs. En arriere de la ligne des cuisses, en 

 dessus, commence une tache jaune, longue et etroite, qui s'etend en arriere ; elle a 

 10 mill, sur 2 a 3. Sur la queue ou voit cinq series de taches doubles, rondes, qui se 

 rapprochent I'une de I'autre sur la ligne mediane superieure ; elles sont jaunes et 

 visiblement bien bordees de rouge, surtout celle placees vers le bout de la queue. 

 Mamelon du cloaque tach(5 de jaune de chaque cote. Dessous du corps d'un violet 

 noiratre. Pourtour iuferieur de la bouche borde de taches rouges qui s'etendent sur 

 la gorge." 



