CALOTES. 71 



scales behind supraciliary edge; tympanum lialf, or more than 

 half, diameter of orbit. Gular pouch very small ; gailar scales 

 l^eeled, smaller than veutrals. JNTo fold in front of shoulder. 

 Nuchal crest composed of erect compressed spines, the longest 

 never equalling diameter of orbit ; dorsal crest a mere serrated 

 ridge. 57 to 120 keeled scales round middle of body ; dorsal 

 scales mucli smaller than ventrals, upper directed upwards and 

 backwards, laterals dow nwards and backwards. Hind limb reaching 

 between eye and tip of snout; third and fourth fingers equal or 

 nearly so, about as long as fifth toe. Tail round, subtriangular at 

 base. Green, uniform or with reddish or daik bro\An markings, 

 changing rapidly to yellowish, grey-brown, dark brown or 

 blackish ; in April, according to Tlower, the lips, cheeks, and 

 throat of the males assume golden, red, and crimson shades. 



from snout to vent 130 millim. ; tail 440. 



Tenasserim, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago ; common 

 everywhere. 



This species, according to Annandale, is rather less active than 

 C. versicolor, and often sits quite motionless on tree-trunks, with 

 its hind and foi-e quarters raised from the surface to which it 

 clings. This is the " Chameleon " of Europeans in the Peninsula. 



72. Calotes versicolor. 



Agamd versicolor, Baud. Hist. Rept. iii, p. 39i"3, pi. xliv (1802). 



Calotes versicolor, Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 140 (1864) ; Bouleng.. 

 Cat. Liz. i, p. 13fi (1885) ; id. Faun. Erit. Ind., Rept. p. 135,, 

 fiff. 42 (1890) ; S. Flower, P. Z. S. 1896, p. 872 ; id. op. cit. 1899, 

 p." 639; Bouleng. Fascic. Malay., Zool. i, p. 154 (1903). 



Upper head-scales rather large, smooth or feebly keeled, imbri- 

 cate, more or less enlarged on supraorbital region ; two well- 

 separated spines (seldom absent or scarcely distinct) on each side 

 of the back of the head, above the ear ; tympanum half, or less 

 than half, diameter of orbit. Gular pouch feebly developed ; gular 

 scales smooth or feebly keeled, as large as ventrals or larger, 

 larger and mucronate in the adult male. No fold in front of 

 shoulder. Dorso-nuchal crest well developed in the male, com- 

 posed of lanceolate spines gradually decreasing in size on posterior 

 part of body. 35 to 57 scales round middle of bod3^ dorsals more 

 or less distinctly keeled, larger than ventrals, all directed upwards^ 

 and backwai'ds ; ventral scales strongly keeled. Hind limb 

 reaching temple or eye ; fourth finger a little longer than third. 

 Tail round ; brownish or yellowish, uniform or with dark trans- 

 verse bands or spots, or dark olive-brown with light spots or 

 longitudinal lines ; belly sometimes with dark longitudinal lines. 

 The male assumes brilliant colours (red, yellow, and black) during 

 the breeding season. 



From snout to vent 95 millim. ; tail 280. 



India and Ceylon, Baluchistan, and from Southern China to 

 the Malay Peninsula. Very abundant in Trang, the Patani 



