VARANID^. 



303 



nostrils small, oval, obliquoh' directed upwards and backwards, 

 nearer the end of the snout than the eye. liody elongate. Limbs 

 short, with short, thick, feebly compressed digits ; claws short and 

 not much compressed. Tail roundish, feebly depressed at the base, 

 tapering gradually, as long as head and body. Head covered with 

 small tubercular scales, larger on the snout and forehead, largest of 

 all on tlie temples. Back and upper surface of tail with regular 

 longitudinal rows of large wart-like tubercles, each bearing a horny 

 keeled scale, which does not entirely cover the protuberance ; these 

 tubercles form six series on the back ; the space between them is 

 covered by juxtaposed small flat tubercles. The lower surface of the 

 head with small scales like those on the snout and forehead, but 

 more convex, gradually increasing in size towards the neck ; a 

 slight syraphiseal groove on the chin. The abdominal scales slightly 

 imbricate, flat, becoming rather pointed towards the end of the 

 body, passing gradually into the tubercles of the sides. The scales 

 on the the lower surface of the tail like those on the belly, but 

 square and not imbricate, forming regular rows. Reddish brown 

 above ; lower surfaces, with the exception of the head, yellow, with 

 brown band-like marblings. 



Fam. 12. VARANID^. 



Lacertiens, part., Chvier, R'cyne Anini. ii. 1817. 



Tupinambidas, part., Gray, Ann. Phil. (2) x. 1825. 



Ameivoidea, part., Fitzinger, Neue Classif. licpt. 1826. 



Uaranidse, Grcq/, Phil. Mag. (2) ii. 1827. 



Thecoglossfe plcurodoutes, part., Wac/ler, Syst. Amph. 1830. 



Monitores, JVieyinnnn, Herp. Mex, 1834. 



Varaniens, part., Dumeril cV Bibron, Erp. Gen. iii. 1830. 



Monitoridae, Gray, Ann. N, II. i. 1838, and Cat. Liz. 1845. 



Varanidaj, Cope, Proc. Ac. Phil ad. 18(i4. 



Varanidse, Boulenyer, Ann. 4" Mag. N. H. (5) xiv. 1884. 



Tongue smooth, very long and slender, bifid, retractile into a 

 sheath at the base. Teeth large, dilated at the base, -fthioh is fixed 

 to the inner side of the jaws ; palate toothless. Prasmaxillary 

 single, narrowed and much prolonged posterioi-ly ; nasal bones 

 coalesced, narrow ; two frontals ; a single parietal ; a supraorbital 

 bone ; postorbital arch incomplete ; a bony postfroiitosquamosal 

 arch ; pterygoids and palatines widely separated ; intraorl)ital fossa 

 bounded by the pterygoid, palatine, and transverse bone, the maxillary 

 being excluded. No dermal cranial ossifications ; head covered 

 with small polygonal scales. Eyelids well developed ; ear-opening 

 distinct. Limbs well developed; clavicle slender; interclaviclo 



