312 



Foot. 

 Tail 



1. (J, W. Turkestan. 2. S, Puli Hatun, Transcaspia. 3. c?, 

 Tchinas, Turkestan. 4. (J, New Giilraii, Turkestan. 5. $ , Tcliinas. 

 6. 9 , Ferghana district. 



Habitat. — Asia Minor, Transcaucasia and from tlie North and 

 East Coasts of the Caspian Sea to Chinese Turkestan, Western 

 Mongolia, Bokhara and North-Eastern Persia. 



Var. PEESICA, Blanford. 



The predominating form in Persia and N.W. Baluchistan is not 

 strictly a geographical variety, as Nikolsky has recorded the typical 

 E. velox from Noi-th-Eastern Persia, where it occurs alongside the 

 var. persica.* Although regarded by some as a distinct species, the 

 distinctive characters appear to me too slight to justify such a course. 

 The principal character resides in the smooth or obtusely keeled 

 caudal scales, which are also generally smaller on the base of the 

 tail — 82 to 46 in the fourth or fifth whorl. The size is usually larger, 

 and the limbs may exceptionally be a little longer, sometimes reaching 

 the ear in males ; in one specimenf the foot is 1-J- times as long 

 as the head. The frontonasal is usually longer in proportion to its 

 width, exceptionally as long as broad, and 2 to 6 times as long as 

 the suture between the nasals above the rostral ; in three specimens 

 au azygos shield is present between the prefrontals ; the interparietal 

 is always much smaller than the frontoparietals ; the lower nasal is 

 often extensively in contact with the rostral, J and very rarely- separated 

 from it.§ 26 to 35 gular scales in a median longitudinal series. 

 54 to 72 scales across the middle of the body. 18 to 25 femoral pores 

 on each side. 



The young are striated as in the typical form. The adults have 

 the upper parts grey or brown, with round black spots, or with 

 longitudinal series of black dots, or streaked or irregularly spotted 

 as in the typical form, usually with a black lateral band with small 

 or large white spots ; a dark vertebral streak is never present, except 



* Blaiiford's E. velox from Gliilan must he referred to this variety if the 

 absence of keels on the caudal scales is of any importance. 



t From W. of Ispahan. — Its measurements are here given, column 2. 

 t In 21 specimens out of 48 examined. 

 § In 5 specimens only. 



