OCR Text |
Show 1881.] MR. W. T. BLANFORD ON PERSIAN REPTILES. 675 that the tail is shorter, being from lj to 1| the length of the head and body. It is rounded throughout, and decreases regularly in size. Head short and high, with the canthus rostralis well marked, and supraorbital ridge prominent. The height of this ridge above the lip-margin is equal to the distance from the anterior corner of the eye to the end of the snout, or from the posterior corner of the eye to the ear. No crest. A well-marked gular sac, much larger in males than in females, and a double fold across the throat, the hinder fold running up in front of the shoulder on each side. In adult males, the fore limb laid back just touches the thigh, the hind limb laid forward extends to the neighbourhood of the ear; in females the limbs are a little shorter. In the fore foot the fingers increase nearly regularly in length from the first to the fourth, the fourth is decidedly longer than the third, and the end of the fifth is beyond that of the first. In the hind foot the fourth toe is one quarter longer than the third, and the fifth terminates nearly opposite to the first. All the scales on the upper part of the head are distinctly keeled; there are a few scattered spinose scales about the occiput, and a little group of half a dozen small spines above the ear. The nostril, which is at the end of the canthus, and is directed backwards and upwards, lies in the hinder part of a large shield. Supraorbital ridge formed of elongate scales obliquely placed. From 30 to 40 small square labials round each lip, sometimes not larger, sometimes rather larger than the adjoining scales ; all are swollen and subcarinate. Upper median labial (rostral) variable; the lower is about twice as broad and high as the other labials. Scales at side of head, especially those in front of the eye, immediately beneath it, and behind it, keeled. Scales of chin and throat rhomboidal, bluntly keeled. Scales of neck small, with small conical spines scattered singly and in groups on both sides. All the scales of the neck, body, limbs, and tail are keeled and thoroughly imbricate. Along the back of the neck the scales are unequal in size, and there is sometimes a longitudinal tract covered with small scales, sometimes a rudimentary crest. Dorsal scales very unequal, larger scales being scattered over the back and sides ; but none are double the diameter of the scales occupying the middle of the back. In males the dorsal scales are raised into short trigonal spines; in females the scales are not distinctly spinose, but they are strongly keeled throughout. The ordinary scales in the middle of the back are considerably larger than on the sides. Ventral scales flatter, but still distinctly keeled, and pointed or submucronate at the posterior extremity ; they are a little larger than the scales on the sides, but smaller than those on the back. About from 75 to 85 scales round the middle of the body. Beneath the feet the scales are tricuspid, being strongly keeled, with a small projecting point on the distal margin at each side of the keel. Claws strong and dark horny, those of the fore feet longer than those of the hind feet. Preanal pores forming a single not very conspicuous row in males, wanting in females. Colour (in spirit) above earthy grey, with more or less distinct |