202 



THE MALAY PROVINCE 



Tortoises and Among the reptiles, there are comparatively few meriting special 



Terrapins. attention. The land-tortoises and terrapins are, however, abundantly 

 represented. Among these are three kinds of land-tortoise, Testudo elongata, 

 T. phifji nota, and T. emys, of which the second is confined to Burma and northern 

 Pegu, while the other two range from Assam over a large part of the Malay 

 countries. The three species of the chiefly terrestrial genus Geoemyda are peculiar 

 to this area ; and the same is nearly the case with those of Cyclemys, although one 

 ranges into Cachar. One species of the allied genus Morenia is likewise Malay ; 

 and batagurs of the genus Cachuga occur in the Irawadi. Very characteristic of 

 the province is the big-headed tortoise (Platystemum megacepkalum), which 

 represents a family by itself, and is distinguished by its slender body, long tail 

 and massive head. It is a rare inhabitant of the rivers of Burma, Siam, and 



rj~ 



BIG-HEADED TORTOISE. 



Lizards. 



southern China. The fresh-water soft-tortoises, which are distributed over the 

 warmer countries of Asia, Africa, and North America, are represented in the Malay 

 province by Trionyx cartilagineus, the shell of which attains a large size. 



The largest representative of the lizards is the banded monitor 

 ( Varanus salvator), which may attain a length of over 40 inches, 

 exclusive of the long tail. It ranges over India as well as south-eastern Asia, 

 dwelling among swamps and in trees above the surface of the water. Among the 

 great group of agamoid lizards, mention may be made of the variable lizard 

 {Calotes versicolor), which is reddish yellow in colour with brown cross-bands, and 

 'I'Ti'ves its names from its chameleon-like change of colour. This' lizard ranges 

 from Afghanistan and Baluchistan into China, and Cochin China. 



Of the Hying lizards, which are peculiar to the Oriental region, the most common 

 is perhaps Draco volans, which ranges from the Malay Peninsula into Borneo. The 

 geckos, which are of much wider distribution, have a fairly common representative 



