( 40 ) 



Scales of the neck and back keeled ; of the belly smooth ; 

 slightly raised in the centre, in 116 transverse rows. Colour 

 olive greenish ashy, passing on neck into orange. Crown of head 

 black, with lines of the same colour below and behind the eyes; 

 down the neck also a median black line along the nape and some 

 other less distinct lines and dashes on nose, neck and shoulders. 

 Below white. Tail slightly more than half total length. 



Length of type of the above description 29 inches, but doubtless 

 grown larger as traces of ocelli indicative of nonage were observ- 

 able. 



Inhabits the North-Western Provinces and the Panjab. 



The Varanidse are carnivorous, not disdaining carrion, and are 

 hence often seen about buildings in search of offal. They are 

 esteemed however for food by the non- Aryan races and by many 

 Europeans ; and are often hunted for by dogs, whose scent enables 

 them to discover their prey in the hollow trees or holes within 

 which they habitually take shelter. They lay numerous eggs, in 

 the rainy season in the ground usually selecting a deserted white 

 ant's nest for the purpose. The eggs are whitish, cylindrical 

 with tapering ends, two inches or more long, and of a leathery 

 texture. 



The young of all the species differ from the adults, by being 

 much more brightly coloured and ornamented with streaks and 

 ocelli which disappear with age. 



Family Lacertid^. 



Head covered with symmetrical shields. Tongue slender, free 

 exsertile ; tip forked. Scales of back granular or rhombic ; of the 

 sides granular; of the belly quadrangular or rounded, in trans- 

 verse bands. No lateral fold, but usually one across the throat. 

 Tail very long, with verticillate scales. Eyes diurnal. Tympanum 

 distinct. Limb four. 



Tachydromus, Daudin, 



Nostril usually in a single shield immediately above the 

 labials. Eyelids distinct. Dorsal scales large, strongly keeled ; 



