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Show 740 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE SPECIES OF [June 21, I. Genus LACERTA, Linn. As already observed by different authors, this genus has been divided in a"most unnatural manner by Gray. It will not be necessary to discuss the characters of these so-called genera, the number of which amounts to five, viz. Zootoca, Wagl., Lacerta, L., Thetia, Gray, Teira, Gray, and Nucras, Gray. All these I consider to belong to one genus. Notopholis, Fitz., which by some is united with Lacerta, may, I think, be kept apart, and ought perhaps to be united with Algira, Cuv., as the recently discovered Zerzoumia blanci, Lataste ', is a link connecting the two forms. ZOOTOCA OXYCEPHALA (Schleg.), Gray, Cat. p. 29. The young specimen referred with doubt to this species proves to be Lacerta muralis. I have never seen an example of L. oxycephala ; but Bedriaga, in his important paper2, shows that it is doubtless perfectly distinct from L. muralis. ZOOTOCA TAURICA (Pall.), Gray, Cat. p. 29. The British Museum did not possess this Lizard when the Catalogue was published. This species is now represented in the collection (3 5 s, Crimea). It bears great resemblance to L. vivipara. The scutellation of the temple is the same in both. The collar is decidedly toothed. The dorsal scales are granular, and perfectly smooth; three transverse series correspond to a ventral plate. The ventral plates are in six longitudinal series. The anal plate is surrounded by two series of small plates. Femoral pores 18. The free edge of the caudal scales is shortly pointed, the shape being thus intermediate between that of L. vivipara and that of L. muralis, var. fusca. ZOOTOCA DERBIANA, Gray, Cat. p. 29. This species is identical with Lacerta galloti, D. & B., as had been recognized by m y late friend Arthur O'Shaughnessy. This identification proves that the locality given with doubt "Australia? Sydney 1" is, as might have been expected, the result of misinformation. It is perhaps hardly necessary to observe that the diagnosis given by Gray is, as usual, quite unreliable. First he states that there are 12 rows of ventral shields in Z. derbiana, 12 or 14 in Z. galloti ; the fact is, that in this respect the forms do not differ from each other, the number of longitudinal series of plates being 12 or 14. Then the " minute granules between the dorsal scales," mentioned in Z. derbiana and not in Z. galloti, occur in both, and seem to be a specific character, which, however, can be ascertained only in specimens which have the skin somewhat distended. Finally it is stated that the middle series of ventral plates are the largest; it is the reverse. 1 ' Le Naturaliste,' 1880, p. 299. a Arch. f. Naturg. 1880, p. 250, pi. xi. |