66 SAURIA. 



with darker, whilst the lower parts are marked with irregular dark transverse bands. Nape 

 of the neck without regular cross bands. 



This appears to be the most common species in British India. Specimens have been 

 obtained from Bengal and Nepal, from diiferent parts of Southern India, and from Ceylon. 

 A very young specimen, 10 inches long, brought by Captain E. H. Beddome from the 

 Anamallay Mountains, shows narrow black bands across the neck; but they are much 

 narrower than in V. lunatus, and rather irregular. It sometimes exceeds a length of 4 feet, 

 the tail being longer than the body. 



Kelaart (Prodr. Faun. Ceyl. p. 147) says that it is called in Ceylon the " Goana." " It is 

 found in great abundance in all the maritime provinces, rarely in the higher Kandian 

 districts. The natives are partial to its flesh ; we have once tasted some excellent soup made 

 from a tender Goana; it tasted not unlike hare-soup. They live in holes, and in midday 

 they steal out of their cells in search of food, which consists of smaller reptiles and insects. 

 Ant-hiUs fm-nish them with a dainty repast. At Trincomalee they are hunted down by dogs, 

 and sold in the market for sixpence each." 



Figures B, B', B" of Plate IX. represent the head in two views, and the fore foot, of the 

 natural size. 



Vakanus lunatus. The Banded Water Lizard. (Plate IX. fig. C.) 



Varanus lunatus, Gray, Lizards, p. 10. 



This species is very similar to V. draccena, from which it is distinguished by a larger 

 number of ventral shields, which are arranged in 105 cross series from the gular fold to the 

 loin. Neck, trunk, and tail marked with cross bands, which are as broad as the inter- 

 spaces of the ground-colour ; these bands are angular on the neck and trunk, mth the angle 

 directed backwards on the neck and forwards on the trunk — four on the neck, eleven on the 

 trunk. Sides and legs dotted with white. 



The single (typical) specimen in the British Museum is stuffed, and 25 inches long, the 

 tail having a length of 14 inches. It is marked as coming from India, but without further 

 information. 



Varanus nebulosus. The Clouded Water Lizard. (Plate IX. fig. D.) 



^Monitor nebulosus, Gray, in Griff. An. Kingd. ix. p. 27. 



Varanus nebulosus, Bum. c^ Bibr. Erpet. gen. iii. p. 483. ? Cantor, Cat. Mai. Rept. p. 27. 



The toes are as long as in V. draccBna, and armed with very acute claws. The nostril is a 

 long slit, and situated nearer to the eye than to the end of the snout. The teeth are slightly 



