374 ME. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE VARIETIES OF 



Rostral shield usually narrowly separated from the nostril, but sometimes entering 

 it ; nasals forming a suture behind the rostral, separated from the anterior loreal by the 

 postnasal, which is single. Frontal as long as or shorter than its distance from the end 

 of the snout ; a series of granules between the supraciliaries and the principal supra- 

 oculars, the first of which is often in contact with the first supraciliary. Occipital very 

 variable in size, often longer and broader than the interparietal L Parietals once and 

 one-third to once and two-thirds as long as broad, in contact with the upper postocular. 

 Upper temporal shield entirely absent or broken up into a series of small shields. 

 Temple covered with granular scales; tympanic and masseteric shields usually distinct 2 , 

 the latter separated from the parietal by two to four series of scales. Four upper labials 

 anterior to the subocular. 



30 to 40 scales and granules on a line between the symphysis of the anterior chin- 

 shields and the median collar-plate ; gular fold distinct ; collar even-edged, formed 

 usually of rather small plates, 9 to 15 in number. 



Dorsal scales granular, round or oval, smooth, 70 to 90 across the middle of the body 

 (PL XXVI. fig. 7 (?) ; 4 and 5 transverse series (rarely 3 and 4) correspond to one ventral 

 plate, 42 to 62 to the length of the head. Ventral plates in 6 longitudinal and 26 to 

 30 transverse series. 



Anal plate bordered by one or two semicircles of small plates. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia finely granular, smaller than dorsals, smooth ; 17 to 

 25 pores under each thigh. 27 to 32 lamellar scales under the fourth toe. 



Upper caudal scales more or less strongly keeled, truncate or very obtusely pointed 

 behind ; the whorls subequal in length, the fourth behind the postanal granules 

 containing 30 to 46 scales. 



The colour of the back varies from brown to olive, bright grass-green, or blue-green ; 

 the sides are brown or reddish brown with paler brown or pale green spots. Three 

 stripes of dark brown or blackish spots or vermiculations extend along the back, but it 

 frequently happens that these stripes lighten in the centre and that their borders become 

 converted into lines, such specimens having six fine dark lines along the back ; some 

 specimens have dark marblings or vermiculations all over the back, and such is the case 

 in the single very young specimen I have examined 3 . The lower parts vary from orange 

 to salmon-red, copper-colour, or brick-red, without or with small black spots which 

 may form regular longitudinal series ; a series of turquoise-blue spots on each side of 

 the belly; throat spotted or marbled with reddish brown or blackish. 



In the specimen from Dragoneras Island, Minorca, named by Bedriaga var. gigliolii, 

 the back, at least posteriorly, and the upper surface of the tail are described as of a dark 

 blue-green or peacock-blue, and the outer row of ventral shields lapis-blue. Preserved 



1 Twice as long and twice as broad as the interparietal in a <S from Mahon. 



- Hardly distinct in single specimens from Mahon, Dragoneras Island, and Ape Island. 



3 Erom Mahon, in the Lataste Collection. 



