Lacerta. 245 



small ; tympanic shield distinct ; masseteric shield sometimes large, 

 usually small or absent. 



24 to 35 scales between the symphysis of the chin-shields and the 

 median collar-plate, usually 26 to 31 ; gular fold distinct. Collar with 

 even or very slightly serrated edge, composed of 8 to 18 plates, usually 

 9 to 12. 



Scales very small, convex, round or oval-hexagonal, feebly but 

 distinctly keeled, 60 to 82 across the middle of the body, usually 65 

 to 76 ; 45 ( 9 ) to 60 ( (J ) transverse series in the middle of the body 

 correspond to the length of the head, 3 and 4, 4, or i and 5 on the 

 sides correspond to a ventral plate. Ventral plates in 23 to 32 transverse 

 series (23-28 in ^, 26-32 in 9 ).* Preanal plate rather small, with 

 two semicircles of small plates. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia feebly keeled, as large as or a little 

 smaller than dorsals. 20 to 28 femoral pores on each side, usually 22 

 to 26. 28 to 37 lamellar scales under the fourth toe, usually 30 to 35. 



Upper caudal scales strongly keeled and truncate or, rarely, very 

 obtusely pointed, more or less oblique, and often grooved on each side 

 of the keel; the whorls usually distinctly longer and shorter alternately, 

 the fourth containing 30 to 40 scales. 



Coloration and markings very variable, some specimens resembling 

 the var. alhiventris, others being absolutely identical with the var. 

 bedtiagx.f Grrey, greyish olive, greenish, or bright green on the back, 

 grey brown on the sides, with black spots forming a reticulation, 

 sometimes cross-bars, or with the spots on the vertebral region confluent 

 into a wavy band, thus answering to the patterns striato-maculata, 

 reticulata, and tigris of Eimer ; sometimes the black spots form five 

 regular longitudinal series ; a blue or green ocellus above the axil and 

 spots of the same colour on the outer ventral plates. Other specimens 

 are uniform greyish brown, greyish green, or olive (i. olivacea, Eaf., 

 var. modesta, Eimer), whilst a third category are intermediate, the 

 markings being present and also very variable, but brown instead of 

 black and more or less effaced, thus connecting the two extremes. 

 Upper surface of head often with large black spots or vermiculations ; 

 a more or less distinct dark streak on the side of the head, passing 

 through the eye. Tail uniform, or with small dark and light spots, 

 rarely with black and white spots forming more or less distinct bars. J 



* The plates of the outer row are divided into two in one specimen from 

 Sardinia, and some specimens show an incomplete outer series. 



t Of. Tr. Zool. Soc. xx, 1913, pi. xviii, figs. 7 and 8. 



X As pointed out by Dehavit (C. K. Soc. Biol. Ixxxii, 1919, p. 514), the head 

 and tail are never green. 



