EUPREPES EUFESCENS. 79 



EuPREPES RUFESCEXS. The Common Indian Skink. (Plate X. fig. B.) 



Lacerta rufescens, Shaw, Zool. iii. p. 285. 

 Scincus multifasciatuSj Kuhl, Beitr. p. 12. 

 Tiliqua rubriventris, Gray, hid. Zool., and Ann. ^ Mag. Nat. Hist. 1846, xvii. p. 430. 



carinata, Gray, Zool. Journ. 



affiuis, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 289. 



Euprepes sebse, Duni. ^ Bibr. Erpet. gen. v. p. 692. 



Tiliqua rufescens, Gray, Lizards, p. 109. 



Euprepes rufescens. Cantor, Cat. Mai. Rept. p. 46. 



Plestrodon sikkimensis. Gray, Ann. ^ Mag. Nat. Hist. 1853, xii. p. 388. 



A pair of supranasal shields ; the prsefrontal is generally separated from the rostral and 

 vertical by the supranasals and postfrontals, but sometimes it slightly touches one of the 

 median shields named. The fifth upper labial is below the orbit, and much longer than 

 high. Opening of the ear with a few minute tubercles in front. Scales with three more 

 or less obtuse keels each, in twenty-eight or thirty longitudinal, and in about thirty 

 transverse series. Prseanal shields not enlarged ; subcaudals generally broadish. Limbs of 

 moderate strength ; the third hind toe is one-fourth shorter than the fourth. 



The coloration varies : — 



a. Specimens from Madras and from the Deccan have a very distinct yellowish band 

 running fi'om the superciliary along the upper part of the side of the neck, becoming 

 indistinct on the trunk. The sides below the yellow band are dark brown. Upper parts 

 brown, with a blackish streak running along each series of scales. Lower parts whitish. 

 Specimens from Nepal are generally more darkly coloured. 



b. Specimens from Ceylon have the yellowish bands less distinct than the former ; their 

 sides are sometimes nearly black, or blackish brown, without lighter spots. Dorsal streaks 

 very indistinct. 



c. There is no trace of a whitish band in a specimen from Afghanistan. Upper parts 

 brownish, with scattered black dots ; sides variegated with black, white, and brown. This 

 specimen has only twenty-eight longitudinal series of scales. 



d. Pinang, Siam, and the East Indian Archipelago are inhabited by three varieties : the 

 first is provided mth a light lateral streak, more or less distinct brownish dorsal streaks, and 

 with scattered white, black-edged ocelli on the sides. The second of these varieties is nearly 

 uniform brownish olive ; sides in some sprinkled with blood-red. The third shows a large 

 oblong blood-red (in spirits, white) lateral blotch, the remainder of the body being of 

 uniform coloration ; the posterior part of the sides of the body and the anterior of the tail of 

 some specimens are provided with square sky-blue spots in the middle of some of the scales. 



This is one of the most common and most widely spread Lizards of the East Indies; it 

 occurs in almost every part of the continent as well as of the Archipelago, from Afghanistan 

 to China and to the Philippine Islands; it is even said to inhabit the Sandwich Islands. 



