Algiroides. 341 



times as long as broad, longer than the occipital, which may be con- 

 siderably broader. Four supraoculars,* first very small, second longer 

 than third, fourth small but larger than first ; 4 superciliaries, rarely 

 ■5, first often in contact with the second supraocular ; a series of 

 granules between the supraoculars and the superciliaries. Eostral 

 narrowly separated from the nostril, or just touching it ; nasal some- 

 times narrowly separating the nostril from the first upper labial ; two 

 small superposed postnasals ; anterior loreal shorter than second ; four 

 upper labials anterior to the subocular, which is a little narrower 

 beneath than above. A large upper temporal, in contact with the 

 fourth supraocular, followed by one, two, or three smaller shields ; 

 temporal scales small, irregular, sometimes feebly keeled, sometimes 

 with a large masseteric shield, and constantly with a large tympanic. 



Gular scales flat, enlarged and imbricate towards the collar, 16 to 20 

 in a straight line between the symphysis of the chin-shields and the 

 median collar-plate ; a strong gular fold. Collar with strongly 

 serrated edge, composed of 5 to 7 plates. 



Scales on back pointed or shortly mucronate, with oblique striation 

 and strong straight keels, on the sides equally large or but little 

 smaller and more obtusely pointed ; 15 to 18 scales across the middle 

 of the body. Ventral plates imbricate, the posterior border obliquely 

 truncate or rounded at the sides, in 6 longitudinal series, the median 

 a,nd outer series narrower than the others ; 21 to 23 transverse series 

 in males, 23 or 26 in females. Preanal plate large, bordered by a 

 semicircle of small plates. 



Upper surface of tibia with large rhombic keeled scales. 9 to 13 

 femoral pores on each side.f 19 to 22 lamellar scales under the 

 fourth toe. 



Caudal scales strongly keeled, pointed and shortly mucronate behind, 

 in alternately somewhat longer and shorter whorls, the fourth or fifth 

 of which contains 16 or 18 scales. 



Greyish brown or olive to blackish above, uniform or with scattered 

 black dots, greyish, bluish, yellow, or orange beneath. 



Measurements (in millimetres) : 



3 ? 



From end of snout to vent 37 43 



„ „ „ fore limb . 14 14 



Length of head ... 98 



Width of head .... 66 



Depth of head . . .54 



* Only 3, the first being absent, in a specimen from Sardinia, 

 t Up to 14 according to Camerano. 



