1872.] HIMALAYAN, AND OTHER REPTILES. 385 



and enlarged tubercular, almost spiny, scales on the parotoid region, 

 and numerous spiny tubercles on the nape of the neck. On the 

 sides of the neck the ordinary scales are small and almost granular. 

 A group of large, flattened, furrowed shields on the temporal region, 

 extending forwards to the posterior angle of the eye. Ear oval, its 

 upper margin guarded by 3 to 4 dependent spines, with some 

 tubercles on either side of them; 28 to 32 upper labials; 26 to 29 

 lower shields, excluding the rostral and mental. Ventral scales 

 smooth, but terminating in a very minute but spinose extremity, 

 about 16 oblique rows between the fore limbs. A transverse row 

 of 14 preanal pores, separated from the margin of the cloaca by 

 about a similar number of pores in a broken line of much narrower 

 and more pointed scales, and with another line of 8 larger pores an- 

 terior to the former. No pores in the female. No trace of a crest 

 on the back or neck. Limbs rather slender, digits strong, and armed 

 with long sharp claws, the dorsal ridge of which is black, and the 

 sides horn-yellow. The palms, soles, and under surface of fingers 

 and toes are strongly keeled, each scale terminating in an apical 

 spine. 



The colour varies considerably, doubtless either due to the animal 

 having the power to change the hues of its skin, or, it may be, de- 

 pending on sexual causes. An adult gravid female is a rich reddish 

 buff tinged with greenish on the head, especially on the parotoids, 

 with six transverse bands of oblong pink spots, situated in groups of 

 large spiny tubercles. A very obscure greenish-buff line along the 

 vertebral ridge, terminating on the base of the tail in a bright yellow 

 line, which runs along its middle to its posterior third, with a series 

 of large reddish-brown spots along each side of it, becoming fainter 

 posteriorly. A narrow, wavy yellow line along the back of the 

 thigh and along the side of the base of the tail, broadly .but inter- 

 ruptedly margined with blackish. Under surface uniform yellow. 

 The male has the same tint as the female, only more yellow ; while 

 the other is slightly darker, with an olive hue. In the former, the 

 red spots are the same, but they are separated on the vertebral line 

 by a stripe of elongated bright yellow spots, which is prolonged on 

 to the base of the tail. The yellow line on the back of the thigh is 

 present, but it is crossed by an intensely black spot. In the latter 

 specimen the vertebral spots have the same character and distribu- 

 tion as in the former, but the transverse bands of red spots are 

 darker red ; the line on the back of the thigh is very markedly 

 white, with its dark margins very brightly developed. The upper 

 dark margin is continued on to the tibial portion of the leg, which, 

 along with the outside of the foot, is more or less banded with dark 

 olive-brown. The two lateral spots on the side of the base of the 

 tail are reddish or even yellowish, with dark margins. In both the 

 males the axillae are metallic pink. In one male the whole of the 

 ventral scales, nearly as far forwards as the axilla, are of a darker 

 and duller yellow than the general colour of the underparts, but 

 they are not perceptibly tumid. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1872, No. XXV. 



