Eremias. 325 



the suture between them J to | the length of the frontonasal, which is 

 much broader than long ; prefrontals as long as broad or longer than 

 broad ; frontal shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, If 

 to If times as long as broad, narrow behind, | to f of its lateral border 

 in contact with the two large supraoculars ; parietals as long as broad 

 or a little longer than broad; interparietal as large as the fronto- 

 parietals or smaller ; no occipital. Two large supraoculars, preceded and 

 followed by a small shield, the first of which may be broten up into 

 very small shields or granules; 6 or 7 superciliaries, first longest; a 

 series of granules between the supraoculars and the superciliaries. 

 Eostral as deep as broad, a little narrower beneath than above ; three 

 nasals, rarely four,* the lower in contact with the 2 or 3 anterior 

 upper labials but not reaching the rostral ; anterior loreal as long as 

 deep or a little deeper than long, shorter than the second ; subocular 

 keeled below the eye, usually resting on the 6tli to 8th or 7th to 9th 

 upper labials, rarely wedged in between two labials and reaching 

 the mouth.t Temporal scales granular, smooth, lower larger ; 

 tympanic shield present ; no auricular denticulatiou. Lower eyelid 

 opaque, with feebly enlarged scales in the middle. 



4 or 5 chin-shields, the 3 anterior in contact in the middle, or 6 or 

 7, the 4 anterior in contact.J 28 to 47 § gular scales in a straight line 

 between the symphysis of the chin-shields and the median collar-plate ; 

 gular fold more or less distinct. Collar nearly straight or slightly 

 curved, free, composed of 12 to 17 plates (exceptionally 9), some of 

 which are not or but scarcely larger than the gular scales in front of 

 them. 



Scales granular, flat, round, oval, or hexagonal, 54 to 66 || across 

 the middle of the body. Ventral plates mostly as long as broad or 

 longer than broad, in 32 to 37 transverse series, the longest of which 

 contain 18 plates ^ ; the longitudinal series iiTCgular or the plates 

 tessellated. Preanal region covered with small irregular plates, a few 

 of the postero-median slightly enlarged. 



Upper surface of arm with rhombic smooth scales which are but 

 little larger than the largest gulars. Scales on upper surface of tibia 



* The lower nasal is divided in one specimen from the Alashan Desert. 



t In one specimen from Khara-Morite and in one from Chinese Turkestan 

 (Paris Museum) ; in 4 per cent, of the 62 specimens examined by Bedriaga. 



+ Type of E. kessleri. One specimen from Khara-Morite. 



§ 27 to 45, usually 30 to 41, according to Bedriaga. 



II tip to 10 according to Bedriaga. 



If 30 to 37 transverse series with 16 to 20, very rarely 22, plates, according 

 to Bedriaga. 



