2 LACERTID. 
single ; postorbital and postfrontotemporal arches complete ; inter- 
orbital septum and columella cranii well developed ; palatines and 
pterygoids separated on the median line. Skull with bony dermal 
plates, roofing over the supratemporal fosse. 
Limbs well developed, pentadactyle. Clavicle dilated and per- 
forated proximally ; interclavicle cruciform. Tail long, fragile. 
Pupil round. Eyelids well developed. Ear-opening distinct. 
Femoral pores usually present. 
Head with symmetrical shields; those on the upper surface are 
(normally) a frontonasal, a pair of prefrontals, a frontal, two to 
four supraoculars, a pair of frontoparietals, a pair of parietals, an 
interparietal, and an occipital. The latter shield is absent in many 
species, and so are the frontoparietals in the genus Holaspis. Dorsal 
scales juxtaposed or imbricate, usually smaller than the ventrals, 
which form longitudinal and transverse series, 
Inhabit Europe, Asia, and Africa; absent from Madagascar. 
Most abundantly represented in Africa ; few in the East Indies. 
Synopsis of the Genera. 
I. Frontal plate separated from the interparietal by a pair of fronto- 
parietals; tail not much depressed. 
A. Nostril above the first labial, from which it is separated, if at 
all, by a narrow rim; transparent palpebral disk, if present, 
considerably smaller than the eye. 
1. Inguinal, but no femoral pores 1. Tachydromus, p. 3. 
2, Femoral pores. 
a, Ventral plates keeled .... 2. Poromera, p. 6. 
b. Ventrals smooth. 
Collar well marked; dorsal scales much smaller than caudals ; 
digits not fringed laterally, not keeled inferiorly. 
4, Lacerta, p. 8. 
Collar well marked; dorsal scales nearly as large as caudals, 
strongly imbricate; digits not fringed laterally, not keeled infe- 
TIOTLY yeaah aed els vate wis caa be SES 5. Algiroides, p. 43. 
Collar very indistinct or absent; digits not fringed laterally. 
6. Psammodromus, p. 46. 
Collar well marked ; digits not fringed laterally, keeled inferiorly, 
9. Latastia, p. 54, 
Collar more or less distinct; digits fringed laterally and keeled 
NOTION Y wigs edareniewMaeanlek ers 10. Acanthodactylus, p.58. 
