18 2 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



In order to trace the existence of any minor structural differences between 

 these three Clare Island Lizards and those of the mainland, I compared very 

 carefully all the specimens contained in the Irish National Museum, and 

 noticed that in many of them there was only a single loreal scale on the head 



Loreal 

 Nasal : 

 Supranasal 



Upper labials 



Lower labials 



Fig. 1 (x 2). 



(fig. 1). The normal condition in Laccrta vivipara, according to Dr. Boulenger, 1 



is the presence of an anterior loreal in contact with the fronto-nasal scale as 



well as that of a posterior loreal. 



Yet the scale-structure referred to is not constant in Irish Lizards. Out 

 of twenty Irish specimens in the National Museum one-half possess but a 

 single loreal scale. One of the Clare Island Lizards has two loreals, the other 

 has only one. Thus it seems evident that no reliance can be placed on this 

 feature as a peculiarly Irish character. There is, moreover, a Common Lizard 

 from the Eigi Mountain in Switzerland in the Museum which exhibits 

 the same scale-structure, while Dr. Boulenger was able to show me in the 

 British Museum a number of other Continental specimens which had the 

 same peculiarity. There seems to be no constant character by means of which 

 Irish specimens of the Common Lizard can be discriminated from British or 

 Continental ones. Throughout its vast range, from Saghalien, off the east 

 coast of Siberia, across northern Asia, northern and central Europe, this 

 Lizard remains perfectly constant in its specific characters, although exposed 

 to the greatest diversity of climate. 



As regards size, Irish specimens of this Lizard vary between 105 mm. and 

 154 mm. in length, that is to say, from 4 to 6 inches, the females being the 

 largest. This sexual difference in size agrees with Dr. Boulenger's observation, 

 whereas Dr. Bedriaga 2 gives the total length as varying between 109 mm. and 

 140 mm. Dr. Boulenger's measurements, on the other hand, considerably 

 exceed those of the Irish specimens which I have seen. 



The localities nearest Clare Island on the mainland from which the Lizard 

 has been recorded are Belmullet and BoundsLone ; but I have no doubt that 

 it occurs all over Mayo in suitable places, including Achill Island. 



1 Boulenger, G. A. : " Catalogue of Lizards in the British Musuem," vol. iii, p. 24. 1887. 

 3 Bedriaga, J. von : Beitrage zur Kenmiiiss der Lacertilienfamilie. Auhandl. d. Sciickenberg. 

 iNuturf. Gesellsch., vol. xiv. 1886. 



