TROPIDO:S T OTUS TESSELLATUS. 
247 
second upper labials ; internasals triangular, as long as broad, with a narrow, 
truncated, anterior edge, shorter than the nasals and little more tban half the 
size of the prefrontals ; mesial suture of the prefrontals about one half the length 
of the frontal, which equals the distance between its anterior border and the tip 
of the snout ; lateral borders of the frontal nearly straight, its anterior breadth 
equal to about two-thirds of its length; parietals large, rounded posteriorly, about 
one-fourth longer than the frontal, their length equal to the conjoint mesial length 
of the frontal and prefrontals ; loreal as long as deep or longer, in contact with two 
preoculars ; two, rarely one, or three preoculars, the upper excluded from contact with 
the frontal; occasionally a subocular; two to four postoculars ; temporals 1+2; eight 
upper labials, rarely seven ; fourth, rarely third, or fourth and fifth below the eye ; 
anterior chin-shields the shorter, in contact generally with five or rarely four lower 
labials. 19 rows of strongly keeled scales around the body, with the exception of 
the outer row, which is feebly keeled or smooth. Ventrals 160-197 ; anal 1/1 ; 
subcaudals 48-86. 
Olive-grey or olive-brown, with small dark spots arranged in an irregularly quincunciate 
manner, with a dark, more or less defined A-mark behind the parietals. Under surface 
yellowish or reddish, spotted or checkered with black, or almost wholly black. 
Measurements (millim.) and other details ofT. tessellatus, Laur. 
Sex. 
Total 
length. 
Tail. 
Ven- 
trals. 
Anal. 
Cau- 
dals. 
Scales. 
Upper 
labials. 
Labials 
entering 
orbit. 
Sub- 
oculars. 
Proe- 
oculars. 
Relation 
of prai- 
oculars 
to 
frontal. 
Post- 
oculars. 
Tem- 
porals. 
Nasals. 
Loreal. 
Locality. 
? 
645 
115 
168 
1/1 
57 
19 
8 
4th 

2 
B.Ex. 1 
4 
1 + 2 
i 
1 
Beltim. 
This species, which was first recorded from Egypt by Peters 2 in 1863, was obtained for 
me from Beltim, halfway between Damietta and Rosetta. Professor Boettger, in 1878-79, 
was probably correct in doubting its existence in Algeria, although he was aware that 
examples said to have come from Egypt were preserved in the Berlin and Vienna 
Museums. In 1892, however, it was again reported from Algeria by Dr. F. Werner. 
It is found in Palestine and Syria, throughout South-western and Central Asia, South, 
Eastern, Southern, and Middle Europe, and seemingly along the North-African coast. 
It is very aquatic in its habits, and lives chiefly on fish and batrachians. 
Dr. Innes informs me that it is known to the natives of the delta as 
=azroud beiti, but I doubt its being found in houses. 
^ "VJ 
B. Ex. = broadly excluded. 
Mori. Berl. Ak. 1863, p. 370. I am indebted to Mr. Boulenger for this obscure reference. 
