196 



S A U R I A. 



granules : an error which Dumeril & Bibron, " Erpe"tologie generate, 

 III, 1836, 493," have already pointed out. 



HYDROSAURUS VARIUS, Gray. 



SPEC. CHAR. Supraocular plates small, equal. Dorsal scales very 

 small. Tail longer than the body and head together, tapering into 

 a point. A fold under the throat. Color variable, variegated with 

 black and yellow. Neck with lunate black bands. Inferior surface 

 of head and throat transversely banded with black. 



SYN. Lacerta varia, SHAW, in White's Journ. Voy. N. S. Wales, 1790, 246, PI. ill, 

 fig. 2; Nat. Misc. Ill, 1792, 83; &, Gen. Zool. Ill, 1802, 215. 



Tupinambis variegatus, BAUD. Hist. nat. Kept. Ill, 1803, 76. KUIIL, Act. Acad. 

 Nat. Cur. XI, 1820, 125. 



Varanus varius, MERR. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 58. GRAY, in King's Voy. to 

 Austr. II, 1827, 427. DUM. & BIBR. Erpet. gen. Ill, 1836, 491. DUM. & A. DUM. 

 Catal. meth. Kept. Mus. d'Hist. nat. 1851, 51. 



Hydrosaurus variegatus, WAGL. Naturl. Syst. Ainph. 1830, 164. 



Hydrosaurus varius, GRAY, Ann. Nat. Hist. I, 1838, 394 ; &, Catal. Lizz. Brit. 

 Mus. 1845, 12. 



Monitor varius, GRAY, Synops. Kept, in Griff. Anim. Kingd. IX, 1831, 25. 



OBSERV. This species has been tolerably well described by the 

 authors just quoted, so that we might almost limit ourselves to al- 

 luding to the coloration of the specimen, a prepared skin, which lies 

 before us, since it is apt to vary within considerable limits. 



DESCR. The length of the body and head together is about two 

 feet ; the tail is still longer. The head is subquadrangular or sub- 

 pyramidal, elongated, and of rather slender appearance. The neck 

 and body are subcylindrical. The tail itself is subcircular upon its 

 base, and, for a short distance, keelless. The double-edged keel, how- 

 ever, gradually makes its appearance, and may be followed down to its 

 Very tip, which is pointed, the organ, at first somewhat compressed, 

 where the carination began, having gradually tapered away, to assume 

 almost a triangular shape, upon the latter third or fourth of its length. 



The scales are disposed upon transverse series ; they are smaller 

 upon the back and sides than upon the abdomen, and larger along the 

 tail than on the body, the same disproportions being observed between 



