646 MR. STANLEY S. FLOWEK ON THE [Maj' 16, 



Bangkok, in which they were entirely absent ^). 30 to 32 scales 

 round the middle o£ the body, usually 32 (31 in two individuals 

 and 30 in three), suhequal ; dorsals mostly distinctly tricarinate 

 (in one specimen there are also from one to two subsidiary keels) ; 

 nuchals less strongly keeled ; laterals very feebly keeled ; ventrals 

 smooth. The hind limb reaches the elbow of the adpressed fore- 

 limb. Subdigital lamellge smooth. Scales on upper surface of 

 arms smooth or very feebly keeled, on upper surface of legs feebly 

 keeled. 



Colour (in life). These lizards vary so much in colour and 

 markings that they might be separated into an infinite number of 

 varieties ; but it seems to me (at any rate so far as Siamese and 

 Peninsular specimens are concerned) that such divisions would be 

 very artificial. There are certain broad distinctions which can be 

 easily pointed out in selected individuals ; but, with a large series 

 before me, I find attempts to define varieties break down, also 

 individual lizards vary at different seasons and under different 

 conditions. An account of the colours of specimens from Borneo 

 by Mr. Edward Bartlett will be found in the Journal, Straits 

 Branch, Eoyal Asiatic Society, Aug. 1895, pp. 87, 90 & 91. 



Bangkok and Ayuthia specimens are usually distinguished by a 

 broad dark line along each side, separated from the brown back by 

 a narrow pale line ; thus they almost exactly resemble M. siamensis 

 in colour ; but specimens without the dark latei'al line and with 

 red sides instead (as is usual with Peninsular specimens) also 

 occur. 



Coloration of numerous specimens from the 8 localities mentioned 

 on p. 645. — Above rich olive-green, yellowish olive, pale olive-brown, 

 olive-brown, bronze-brown, or bronze ; the back either uniform and 

 immaculate (" Var. E, Dumeril and Bibron" apiid Cantor), or with 

 small black spots which sometimes form five longitudinal black 

 lines (" Var. D, D. & B." cqmd Cantor). 



I. On each side, starting from the snout, passing through the 

 eye and continuing on to the tail, a broad rich-dark- brown line. 



II. Or on each side, starting from above and behind the ear and 

 continuing either halfway down the body or to the inset of the 

 hind leg, a broad red line, highly iridescent, changing to gold, 

 orange, crimson, and green, as the light plays on the living animal 

 (" Yar. P, D. & B." cqmd Cantor, but I have never seen the 

 *' square shy-blue spots " he mentions). This line is broadest and 

 brightest behind the shoulder. 



III. Or the sides may be olive (like the back) with iridescent 

 bronze-red lights, and a line of small black spots where the yellowish 

 upper surface meets the red of the sides. 



A well-defined pale buff oi- yellow (sometimes iridescent) dorso- 

 lateral line, nearly two scales wide, is frequently present (invariably 

 so in Bangkok and Ayuthia specimens that I have examined), 

 which may be margined anteriorly and inferiorly with black spots. 



* Tliis specimen had some of tbe dorsal and hind-limb scales biearinate ; 

 possibly it may be a hybrid between M. muUifasciata and M. siamensis. 



