154 SAURIA. 



LlOLEPIS GUTTATUS. 



Leiolepis guttatus, Cuv. Regne Anim. Dum. ^ Bibr. iv. p. 465. pi. 43. fig. 1. 

 Uromastix belliana, Gray, Ind. Zool. c. fig. 



Leiolepis reevesii. Gray, Lizards, p. 263. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 44. 

 bellii. Gray, Lizards, p. 263. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 41. 



Head tetrahedral, with a distinct canthus rostralis ; body and tail depressed ; legs strong. 

 Snout covered above vdth keeled scales, the remainder of the upper and lateral parts of the 

 head being granular. Rostral and mental shields large, the latter pentagonal, much longer 

 than broad. Throat granulated, with two transverse folds extending upwards to the side 

 of the neck ; a series of small shields commences at the chin, runs backwards along each 

 side of the throat, and is separated from the labials by smaller shields. Nostril lateral, 

 ovate ; eye of moderate size, with the eyelids scaly ; tympanum as large as the eye, ovate 

 in its vertical diameter. Trunk depressed, with a lateral fold of the skin ; it is covered 

 with minute granular scales above, each scale being raised into a conical tubercle ; ventral 

 scales small, smooth, rhombic. Tail depressed, long, tapering, covered vdth very small keeled 

 scales arranged in cross rings; the scales are smallest in the middle of the upper surface, 

 and largest below. Limbs strong ; the hind limb extending nearly to the tympanum, if laid 

 forwards; toes with keeled scales below, armed with strong claws, those of the fore toes 

 being much longer than those of the hind toes ; the third hind toe is one-thu'd shorter than 

 the foui'th. Each femur with a series of from thirteen to nineteen pores, not extenduig into 

 the prseanal region ; each pore is in a separate scale. 



Blackish grey above, with series of yellow, black-edged spots ; some of the spots are con- 

 fluent, entirely black, forming irregular longitudinal bands : in Chinese specimens the spots 

 are not confluent, forming regular ocelli {L. reevesii). The expanded membrane black, with 

 seven or eight broad transverse bands of a brilliant orange. The tail above with numerous 

 small pale-yellow spots ; fore legs with rounded orange-coloured spots ; hind legs dotted with 

 yellow. Throat pale azure ; belly pale orange, reticulated with blue ; lower eyelid pure white. 



For a more intimate knowledge of this lizard we are indebted to Cantor, who had the 

 opportunity of observing li\ing specimens, and who discovered the presence of an expansible 

 wing-membrane. " In a state of repose it appears like a longitudinal loose fold ; expanded the 

 external margin becomes arched, the trunk and the membranes forming a gi'eatly flattened 

 oval disk, resembling the hood of Naja. Like the mechanism of the genus Draco, the mem- 

 branes are .expanded by means of the very long six anterior pairs of spurious ribs, which the 

 lizard has the power of moving forward at a right angle with the vertebral column. The 

 wings are used as a parachute in leaping from branch to branch, after which they immediately 

 resume their state of repose. Sudden fear or anger will also cause a momentary expansion. 

 The specimens which were obtained from a spice plantation in the province Wellesley were 

 active and swift, more so than their rather heavy make would induce one to believe, and they 

 would bite and scratch when handled, although among themselves, in a spacious cage, they 

 appeared peaceable. They were fed with soft fi'uit and boiled rice." 



I have seen specimens from the Malayan Peninsula, from Mergui, from Gamboja, and from 

 China. One of the largest measured 19 inches, the tail taking 13 inches. 



