44 Laoertidse. 



Digits with 3 series of scales, very feebly denticulate on each side ; 20 

 to 25 uni-, bi-, or tricarinate lamellse under the fourth toe. 



Upper caudal scales very oblique, strongly and diagonally keeled, 

 those at the base broader than long, lower smooth in the basal part of 

 the tail ; 22 to 32 scales in the fourth or fifth whorl. 



The young are elegantly striated with black and yellowish white. 

 6 white dorsal streaks, the outer proceeding from the superciliary edge, 

 and extending along the basal third of the tail, the median, which is 

 sometimes bifurcate just before reaching the occiput, ending between 

 the hind limbs, the pair next to it uniting into a single streak on the 

 base of the tail ; 2 white streaks on each side, the upper from behind 

 the eye to the base of the thigh, bordering the tympanum above and 

 interrupted behind the collar-fold, reappearing on the base of the tail, 

 the lower from below the tympanum to the base of the arm and along 

 the side of the belly; series of round yellowish -white spots sometimes 

 present along the black interspaces. Head pale greyish-brown above, 

 with black spots and a continuation of the outer dorsal black band on 

 to the supraoculars ; two black bands on the temple ; upper lip with 

 black spots. Upper surface of limbs black, with large round yellowish- 

 white spots. Tail and lower surface of thighs bright red.* Throat and 

 belly white. In exceptional cases the white vertebral streak splits up 

 into two, and there are then 10 light streaks, 3 dorsals and 2 laterals 

 on each side ; in others, the white vertebral streak persists on the nape 

 but is absent on the body, the median pair uniting on the base of the 

 tail. The number of light streaks on the body may therefore be 10, 

 9 or 8. 



Traces of the light streaks may persist in the adult, sometimes pale 

 grey, finely edged with darker, or become transformed into chains of 

 round whitish dark-edged spots ; large irregular black spots, or black 

 bands with round white spots, may occupy the spaces between the 

 light streaks, or the markings may almost entirely disappear, the 

 upper parts being grey, greyish-brown, or copper-colour. The red 

 colour sometimes persists, faded to pink or pinkish, on the lower 

 surface of the tail. 



Measurements (in millimetres) : 



1. 2. 



From end of snout to vent . 72 74 



.. ., „ fore limb . 27 26 



Length of head . .17 17 



Width of head .... 12 12 



• The tail of the young A. vulgaris has been compared by Bedriaga to the 

 antenna of a boiled lobster. 



