Algiroides. 339 



Head-shields normal. Nostril pierced between two or 

 three nasals, in contact with or narrowly separated from 

 the first upper labial. Lower eyelid scaly. Collar well 

 marked. Dorsal scales large, imbricate, strongly keeled ; 

 ventrals squarish, not or but feebly imbricate, smooth. 

 Digits feebly compressed, with smooth or tubercular 

 lamellae inf eriorly. Femoral pores. Tail long, cylindrical. 



Southern Europe, Tropical Africa. 



This genus is very closely allied to Lacerta, differing only in the 

 large, imbricate dorsal scales, a state of things foreshadowed by L. 

 princeps and L. atlantiea. Although constituting, in a sense, a link 

 between Lacerta and Psammodromus, none of the known species can 

 be looked upon as suggesting a phylogenetic connexion between any 

 of the members of these genera. 



The European species form a group distinct from the African, but 

 the close affinity which A. afrieanus appears to bear to A. nigro- 

 punctatus indicates a common origin, probably in S.W. Asia, 

 whence, however, no representative of the genus is known at present. 



I regard Bosca's A. hidalgi as probably identical with Ophiops 

 occidentalis, Blgr. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. European species. TJsiiaUy two superposed postnasals ; anterior upper 



temporal in contact with fourtli supraocular; temporal scales smooth 

 or very feebly keeled, usually with enlarged masseteric shield. 



A. Dorsal scales pointed, with straight keels, not or but slightly larger than 

 the laterals. 



15 to 19 scales across middle of body ; 9 to 14 femoral pores 

 on each side ; 19 to 22 lamellar scales under the fourth toe ; 

 hind limb not reaching axil . A. fitningeri, Wiegm. 



20 or 22 scales across middle of body ; 12 to 16 femoral 

 pores on each side ; 21 to 23 lamellar scales under the fourth 

 toe ; hind limb reaching axil or shoulder in males . A. moreotieus, Bibr. 



-B. Dorsal scales rounded or obtusely pointed, diagonally keeled, 

 more than twice as large as the laterals ; 22 to 28 scales 

 across middle of body ; 14 to 22 femoral pores on each side ; 

 22 to 27 lamellar scales under the fourth toe ; hind limb 

 reaching axil or beyond . . . . A. nigropunctatus, D. & B. 



II, African species. A single postnasal j parietal usually in contact with the 



upper postocular; temporal scales keeled, without enlarged masseteric 

 shield ; dorsal scales rounded or obtusely pointed, with diagonal keels, 

 larger than the laterals. 

 A. A series of granules between the supraoculars and the superciliaries ; 

 dorsal scales strongly keeled. 



