68 SAURIA. 



Museum, however, has received two examples from the continent — one from China, by 

 Mr. J. Lindsay, and the other from Siam, by Sir J. BoAvring. 



Kelaart (Prodr. Faun. CeyL p. 148) and Blyth (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxii. p. 476) state 

 that it also occurs in Ceylon, whence we have never received it. 



According to Cantor it is " very numerous in hilly and marshy localities of the Malayan 

 peninsula. It is commonly during the day observed in the branches of trees overhanging 

 rivers, preying upon birds and their eggs and smaller lizards, and when disturbed, it throws 

 itself from a considerable height into the water ; it will courageously defend itself with teeth 

 and claws and by strokes of the tail. The lowest castes of Hindoos capture these lizards 

 commonly by digging them out of their burrows on the banks of rivers, for the sake of their 

 flesh, which by these people is gi'eatly relished. Some individuals attain to nearly 7 feet 

 in length." 



FAMILY OF LAND UZ\m)^—LACERTID^. 



Head covered with shields, which are symmetrically arraiis^ed. Tongue 

 slender, free, exsertile, terminating in a fork. Scales on the hack granular 

 or rhomhic, on the sides granular; on the helly larger, quadrangular or 

 rounded, and arranged in cross bands. No longitudinal fold along the 

 sides, but generally a fold across the throat. Tail very long, rounded, with 

 the scales arranged in rings ; fragile. Eyes diurnal, with eyelids ; tympanum 

 distinct. Limbs four, well developed. 



The species of this family do not attain to any considerable size ; most of them are found 

 in Africa, America, and Europe. They live generally on the ground, and are not burrowing. 



Only the following genera occur on the East Indian continent : — 



Inguinal pores only Tachydronms, p. 69. 



Femoral pores; toes not toothed on the sides; eyeUds present . . Cabrita, p. 71. 



Femoral pores ; toes not toothed on the sides ; eyelids none . . . Ophiops, p. 72. 



Femoral pores ; toes toothed on the sides Acanthodactylus, p. 72. 



