116 SAURIANS. 



enables tliern to discover the Varans in the hollow trees in which 

 they habitually shelter themselves, A Burman, though ordinarily 

 a lazy man, will think nothing of cutting down and breaking up a 

 large tree in which one of these creatures has sought refuge. The 

 Varcmidce deposit their eggs in the ground, usually selecting a 

 deserted White- ant's nest. The eggs are cylindrical, with taper- 

 ing ends, of a dirty white colour and leathery texture (those of 

 V. draccena are two inches long), and, being esteemed an uncom- 

 mon luxury by the Burmese, sell dearer than fowls' eggs. They 

 are oily and feculent-looking, though devoid of any nauseous 

 odour, and some Europeans eat them with j)leasure. 



A well-known African species, the V. or Pscmimosmirus scinciis, 

 extends (without the slightest difference) to the extreme desert 

 region of the north-west of India, and more habitually frequents 

 dry localities than others. In this species the nasal apertures are 

 placed very near the eyes. 



In the genus Hydrosaurus, the nostrils are more or less 

 rounded, and are situate near the extremity of the snout. These 

 animals are more decidedly aquatic than the preceding, and 

 some of the species grow to seven or even eight feet in length. 

 Such is the H. giganteus of Australia, where three, if not four, 

 species inhabit. In all south-eastern Asia and its islands, 

 its range extending to Lower Bengal but not to India proper, 

 although found in Ceylon, the H. sahator is a common sjjecies, 

 which, according to the late Dr. Cantor, is "very numerous 

 in hilly and marshy localities of the Malayan peninsula. It is 

 commonly, during the day, observed in the branches of trees over- 

 hanging rivers, preying upon birds and their eggs and smaller 

 Lizards, and when disturbed it throws itself from a considerable 

 height into the water ; it will courageously defend itself with 

 teeth and claws, and by blows with its tail." 

 "We have now to treat of the 



Pachyglossa, 



Which are those Lizards which have the tongue short, thick, at- 

 tached to the gullet, and not exsertile. These fall under two very 

 distinct tribes — the Strobilosaura and Nyctisaura of Dr. Gray, or 



