146 SAURIA. 



of the neck. The hind leg extends to, or nearly to, the angle of the mouth, if laid forwards. 

 The middle of the trunk is surrounded by about thirty-eight series of scales. Dorsal crest 

 high in the adult male, composed of long, closely-set, lanceolate spines, a nuchal portion 

 being separated fi'om the dorsal portion by a very short interspace ; it extends on to the 

 tail ; it is much less developed in immature males in its altitudinal and longitudinal extent, 

 and remains rudimentary in the female sex. An irregular black band, edged below with 

 white, is most distinct between the orbit and the tympanum ; it is interrupted behind the 

 ear and reappears before the shoulder-joint. The back is ornamented with irregular white 

 and black cross bands — many white scales having a dark margin, and the black ones a red 

 longitudinal streak. The isolated large scales are white. Head with red and white dots 

 above ; spines of the dorsal crest partly black and partly red ; legs with bands similar to 

 those of the back ; tail with broad brown rings. The females have less bright colours ; and 

 the young ones broad brown bands across the back, between a pair of indistinct light longi- 

 tudinal bands running along the sides of the back. 



This description of the colours is taken from drawings of living specimens in the possession 

 of Walter Elliott, Esq. The coloration, however, appears to be very variable : Jerdon 

 describes it as a bright grass-green marbled with brown, with some red marks on the head 

 and nape and with a few white scales on the sides. The colours become darker at a low 

 temperature, as is the case with many tropical lizards. 



This is the only species known, the S. (jularis of Blyth* evidently belonging to a different 

 genus. It is found in the Nilgherries and at Newera Ellia in Ceylon, where it frequents 

 bushes and hedges. The statement of its occurrence in Afghanistan depends on a label found 

 with the typical specimens in the former collection of the East India Company. It attains 

 to a length of 15 inches, the tail measuring 11 inches. 



ORIOCALOTES. 



Tympanum naked. Back and sides covered with scales of moderate size, 

 between whicli larger ones are intermixed ; their tips are directed backwards 

 and u])wards ; a spine behind the superciliary edge. Dorsal crest present, 

 formed by non-united spines, less distinct in the female than in the male. 

 Gular sac none. Tail rounded, with keeled scales below, which are as broad 

 as long. 



Only one species is known. 



* Joiu'n. As. Soc. Beug. xxii. p. 473. 



