■226 Lacertidse. 



and the median collar-plate ; gular fold distinct. Collar even-edged, 

 formed usually of small or very small plates, 9 to 15 in number. 



Scales granular, round or oval, smooth, 70 to 90 across the middle 

 of the body ; 42 to 62 transverse series, in the middle of the back, 

 correspond to the length of the head, 4 and 5 (rarely 3 and 4) on the 

 side correspond to a ventral plate. Ventral plates in 26 to 30 trans- 

 verse series in males, 27 to 31 in females.* Preanal plate moderate 

 or rather large, sometimes small, bordered by one or two series of small 

 plates. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia finely granular, smooth, smaller 

 than dorsals. 17 to 25 femoral pores on each side, usually 19 to 24. 

 27 to 32 lamellar scales under the fourth toe. 



Upper caudal scales not, or but slightly, oblique, more or less strongly 

 keeled, truncate or very obtusely pointed behind ; the whorls subequal 

 in length, the fourth behind the postanal granules containing 30 to 46 

 scales. 



The colour of the back varies from brown to olive, bright grass-green, 

 or blue-greenf ; the sides are brown or reddish brown with paler brown 

 or pale green spots. Three stripes of dark brown or blackish spots or 

 vermiculations extend along the back, but it frequently happens that 

 these stripes lighten in the centre and that their borders become con- 

 verted into lines, such specimens having six fine dark lines along the 

 back ; others may have dark marblings or vermiculations all over 

 the back, and such is the case in the single very young specimen (from 

 Mahon) I have examined ; upper surface of head and tail with small 

 blackish spots. The lower parts vary from orange to salmon-red, 

 copper-colour, or brick-red, without or with small black spots which 

 may form regular longitudinal series ; a series of turquoise-blue spots 

 on each side of the belly ; throat spotted or marbled with reddish brown 

 or blackish. 



In the specimens from Dragoneras Island, Minorca, named var. 

 gigliolii by Bedriaga, the back, at least posteriorly, and the upper 

 surface of the tail are described as of a dark blue-green or peacock- 

 blue, the outer row of ventral shields lapis-blue. Preserved in spirit 

 as they are now, the type specimens cannot be distinguished from 

 ordinary Minorca lizards. 



The Ayre Island specimens were described by Griinther {Zootoca 

 lilfordi) as uniform deep shiny black above and of a beautiful sapphire- 



* A similar lack of sexual differentiation occurs in the vars. bedriaffse and 

 Alfolensis. 



t Green specimens which I kept alive became brown alter a time, thus showinff 

 the colour to be seasonal in some cases. 



