Eremias. 231 



The first of the two large supraoculars at most as long as, usually shorter 

 than its distance from the second loreal; 7 to 14 femoral pores on each 

 side, the two series broadly separated in the middle, the space at least i 

 the length of each ; 39 to 62 scales across middle of body. 



12 or 14 ventral plates in the longest transverse series ; fronto- 

 nasal divided into two; 3 or 4 series of scales round the 

 toes . S3. E. argus, Peters, p. 336. 



16 to 20 (rarely 14) ventral plates in the longest transverse 

 series ; frontonasal single ; 4 or 5 series of scales round the 

 toes .... . . 34. ^. arguta. Pall., p. 342. 



1. EREMIAS NITIDA. 



Eremias nitida, Giintli. Ann. & Mag. N. H., (4) ix, 1872, p. 381 ; 

 Bouleng. Cat. Liz. iii, p. 83, pi. iv, fig. 1 (1887) ; Tornier, Arch."f. 

 Nat. Ixvii, 1901, Beih. p. 73; Klaptocz, Zool. Jahrb., Syst. xxxiv, 

 1912, p. 282 ; Bouleng. Journ. Zool. Ees. iii, 1918, p. 3. 



Eremias nigerica, Klaptocz, I.e. 



Head and body modevatelj depressed. Head If times as long as 

 broad, its length H to a little over 4 times in length to vent, its depth 

 equal to the distance between the centre of the eye and the tympanum ; 

 snout obtusely pointed, as long as the postocular part of the head, 

 nasals not swollen ; canthus rostralis obtuse, loreal region feebly 

 concave ; a slight concavity on the upper surface of the snout and 

 along the frontal shield. Pileus twice as long as broad. Neck as 

 broad as the head or a little constricted. Hind limb reaching the 

 collar or between the collar and the ear ; foot a little longer than the 

 head ; toes slender, not compressed. Tail 2 to 2^ times as long as 

 head and body. 



Upper head-shields flat, smooth. Nasals in contact behind the 

 rostral, the suture between them as long as or a little shorter than the 

 frontonasal, which is broader than long ; prefrontals as long as broad or 

 a little broader, forming a sutnre in the middle ; frontal as long as its 

 distance from the end of the snout, li to If times as long as broad, 

 narrow behind ; parietals a little longer than broad ; interparietal 

 twice as long as broad, as long as the frontoparietals or the suture 

 between them* ; occipital very small, sometimes separated from the 

 interparietal by a small shield. Two large supraoculars, preceded' 

 aud followed by two or three small shields ; 5 superciliaries, first 

 elongate ; a series of granules between the supraoculars and the super- 

 ciliaries. Three nasals, lower in contact with the rostral on a very 



* Shorter in the specimen described by Klaptocz. 



