56 AGAMIDyE. 



Genus DRACO. 

 Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 358 (1766). 



Body depressed, with a large lateral wiug-like membrane 

 folding like a fan, supported by the last five or six ribs wliich 

 are much prolonged. A gular appendage and a lateral smaller 

 one on each side. Tympanum distinct or covered with scales. 

 Tail long. No femoral or pra^anal poi'es. 



These Hzards have often been represented as resting ou a branch 

 with outspread wings, as the parachute-apparatus is commonly 

 called. According to Dr. P. Krefft's observations made at 

 Singapore on living si)ecimens of D. volans, the brightly coloured 

 parachute is hardly ever unfolded except for the purpose of gliding 

 through the air; when the lizard is at rest, or running, the 

 parachute is closely folded against the body, giving the impression 

 of a lizard emaciated by starvation or recent oviposition, but 

 showing no trace of the brilliant coloration which adorns these 

 membranes. Capt. Flower also observed that these lizards when 

 at rest on the trunk of a tree are almost invisible, owing to their 

 dark mottled-brown tint, the bright colour of the wings showing 

 only when they dart through the air. 



Distributed over the greater part of the Oriental Eegion. 

 Eleven species are known from the Malay Peninsula. 



Malay name, Chi-chah teilang (Flying Gecko). 



Suno2:)sis of the Species. 



I. Nostrils lateral, dh-ected outwards ; no 

 caudal crest ; upper labial shields not 

 keeled. 

 Tympanum exposed ; hind limb not reaching 



beyond elbow of adpressed fore limb D. volans, p. 57. 



Tympanum scaly ; hind limb reaching beyond 



elbow of adpressed fore limb D. maciilatus, p. 58. 



II. Nostrils lateral, directed outwards ; a 



caudal crest. 

 Caudal crest feeble ; ^ular appendage of male 



much longer than lie.id D.Jimbriatus, p. 59. 



Caudal crest strong ; gular append.ige of male 



not longer than head D. punctatus, p. 59. 



III. Nostrils lateial or more or less perfectly 



vertical ; no caudal crest ; upper labials 

 keeled, 8 to 11 ; gular appendage of male 

 translucent, covered Avith large scales. 

 Nostrils lateral; fore limb reaching tip of snout 



or a little beyond D. cijanukemus, p. 60. 



Nostrils nearly vertical ; fore limb reaching 

 considerably beyond tip of snout; gular 



appendage of male much longer than head. . D. hlanfjrdii, p. 61. 

 Nostrils vertical ; for« limb reaching con- 

 siderably beyond tip of snout ; gular ap- 

 pendage of male not or but little longer 

 than head , D. formosus, p. 61. 



