158 



<J Cephalonia 



<5 Corfu 



1. Length (in millimetres) from snout to vent. 2. Number of scales across 

 miSdle of body. 3. Transverse series of ventral i^lates. 4. jSTumber of plates 

 in collar. 5. Number of scales and granules between symphysis of chin-shields 

 and median collar-plate. ■ 6. Number of femoral pores (on right and left sides, 

 if differing). 7. Number of lamellae under fourth toe. 



Habitat. — Crimea and the North Coast of the Black Sea, Eoumania, 

 Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Serbia, Hungary, Greece and Ionian 

 Islands. A specimen stated to be from the Caucasus (Darial Gorge, 

 coll. Chantre, 1879) is preserved in the Lyons Museum. 



I regard Laeerta taurica as one of the most primitive species of the 

 L. muralis group, owing to its palatal dentition, short head, serrated 

 collar, often hexagonal and keeled dorsal scales, more or less pointed 

 caudal scales, etc. The var. ionica connects it with Laeerta muralig, 

 vars. catnpestris und fitimana. 



If I am right in regarding a dark vertebral stripe or series of 

 spots as a primitive character, the typical L. taurica, in which it is 

 always absent, or merely represented by a few spots on the nape,* 



* In accordance to the theory of Eimer that the evolution of markings 

 proceeds from back to front. 



