CHAEASIA. 145 



161. Charasia blanfordiana. 



Charasia dorsalis (non Gray), Blanf. J. A. S. B. xxxix, 1870, p. 368. 

 Charasia blanfordiana, Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xli, 1872, p. 110, pi. iii, 

 tig. 5; Theob. Cat. p. 115; Bouleng. Cat. Liz. i, p. 333. 



This species is very closely allied to the preceding, but remains 

 smaller ; the scales are a little larger (80 to 100 round the middle 

 of the body) and always distinctly keeled and imbricate ; and the 

 hind limb stretched forwards extends at least to the posterior 

 border of the orbit. The nuchal crest is a little more developed. 

 Frequently a small spine behind the supraciliary edge, and a few 

 scattered slightly enlarged scales on the flanks. Young olive-brown 

 above, spotted or marbled with brown, and with a series of more or 

 less distinct large lozenge-shaped brown spots on the back ; these 

 markings persist in the adult female, but are absent in the male, 

 which has a more or less distinct dark lateral baud as in C. dorsalis, 

 and in the breeding- season, May, has the head scarlet, belly, limbs, 

 and tail blackish. 



Hub. South-western Bengal to Chhatisgarh and the Grodavari 

 valley ; S.E. Berar ? Earely seen except on high rocks, especially 

 on hills of granitoid gneiss. 



162. Charasia ornata. 



Brachysaura ornata, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxv, 1856, p. 448 ; Theob. 



Cat. p. 110 ; Cockburn, J. A. S. B. \\, 1882, p. 50. 

 Charasia ornata, Bouleng. Cat. Liz. i, p. 334. 



Habit stout ; head large, short and convex. Upper head-scales 

 subequal, tubercular, obtusely keeled ; two small spines surrounded 

 by still smaller ones on each side of the back of the head, above the 

 tympanum ; the latter not quite so large as the eye-opening. 

 Gular fold not well marked ; gular scales larger than ventrals, 

 feebly keeled. 57 scales round the middle of the body. Dorsal 

 scales much larger than ventrals, rhomboidal, imbricate, keeled, the 

 keels converging obliquely towards the vertebral line ; ventral scales 

 feebly keeled. Nuchal and dorsal crests not continuous, reduced to 

 a mere serrated ridge. Limbs, and especially digits, rather short ; 

 the adpressed hind limb reaches the neck ; scales on limbs much 

 smaller than those on the back. Tail round, as long or not quite 

 so long as head and body, covered with equal, strongly keeled scales. 

 Pale brown above, with three rows of darker, light-edged spots on 

 the back, the median row most distinct and formed of rhomboidal 

 spots ; limbs and tail with dark cross bars. 



From snout to vent 3*5 inches ; tail 3'5. 



Hal. Central India (Saugor) ; North-west Provinces (Allahabad, 

 Banda); Cutch. 



A true ground-lizard, of sluggish habits. According to Cockburn 

 it appears to be nocturnal in its habits, and it is only in the evening, 

 or when its holes are flooded, that numbers are to be seen. 



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