Latastia. 36 



Nostril pierced between 4 to 6 shields ; nasals forming a suture 

 behind the rostral, the suture i to ^ the length of the frontonasal, 

 which is broader than long* ; prefrontals forming a median suture ; 

 frontal shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, 1^ to Ij 

 times as long as broad, rounded in front, much narrower behind ; 

 parietals If to 2 times as long as broad ; interparietal ly to 2J times 

 as long as broad ; occipital shorter and usually much broader than 

 the interparietal.t 4 supraoculars, first small and in contact with the 

 frontal, J sometimes broken up into 2 or 3 granules, second and. third 

 equal, fourth small but larger than first, and sometimes also broken 

 up ; 6, rarely 7, superciliaries, second usually longest, separated from 

 the supraoculars by a complete series of granules. Lower eyelid with 

 a transparent disc formed of 6 to 8 large scales. Rostral not enter- 

 ing the nostril, often separated from it by a small shield ; 2 or 3 

 postnasals ; 3 loreals, first small and often forming a triangle with 

 the two postnasals, sometimes fused with the upper postnasal, second 

 as long as or shorter than third ; 5 upper labials § anterior to the sub- 

 ocular, which is narrower beneath than above. Two or three narrow 

 upper temporals, first long and in contact with the fourth supraocular ; 

 temporal scales granular, not larger than dorsals ; a distinct tympanic 

 shield. 



6 pairs of chin-shields,|| first three in contact in the middle ; 27 to 

 30 gular scales^f between the symphysis of the chin-shields and the 

 median collar-plate ; gular fold absent or very indistinct. Collar with 

 entire edge, composed of 8 to 12 plates. 



Dorsal scales granular, round or oval, smooth, rather larger and 

 flatter towards the ventrals, 67 to 71** across the middle of the body. 

 Ventral plates scarcely overlapping, with straight posterior border, 

 broader than long, in 6 longitudinal and 28 or 29 transverse seriesft ; 

 sometimes with enlarged lateral scales forming an incomplete addi- 

 tional series on each side. Preanal plate small, broader than long, 

 bordered by 3 or. 4 series of scales, or broken up into several scales. 



A short series of 4 or 5 feebly enlarged transverse plates under the 

 forearm. Upper surface of limbs covered with granular scales. 20 



* Longitudinally divided into two in a female from Hassan Gassi. 



t Separated from it by a small shield in the same female from Hassan Gassi. 



X With rare exceptions, according to Mehely. 



§ Very rarely 6, according to Mehely. 



II Or 6, according to Steindachner. 



If 24 to 33, usually 27 to 31, according to Mehely. 



** Up to 74, according to Mehely. 



tt 27 to 29 in males, 29 or 30 in females, according to Mehely. 



