VAEANUS GEISBUS. 135 
distance from the end of the snout being about four times greater than the interval 
between it and the eye. Tail rounded at the base, slightly compressed posteriorly ; no 
dorsal ridge. Digits rather short; claws strong and curved. Scales on the upper 
surface of the head, including the supraoculars, very small, juxtaposed, smooth, 
generally hexagonal. Scales on the body and limbs small, rounded or oblong, 
sometimes feebly keeled, larger than ventrals, those on the sides of the neck generally 
conical; ventrals smooth, 110-125 between the fold of the neck to the groin. Caudal 
scales small, more or less keeled above and below. 
General colour sandy yellow, with narrow brownish longitudinal lines varying in 
intensity along the side of the neck, and similarly coloured bands or lines across the 
back and tail, becoming lost in some adults towards the tip ; the upper surface of the 
body sometimes with yellow spots. The young is generally pale rufous yellow above, 
with six broad deep black cross-bands on the back, each prolonged on to the sides as 
two curved lines. A narrow black line from the eye over the ear to the sides of the 
neck, another from before and behind the eye along the neck to the front dorsal cross- 
band ; two faint interrupted lines below the ear to the shoulder ; a few narrow blackish 
lines and spots on the snout, on the sides of the head before the eye, and also on the 
lower jaw. The areas between the black dorsal bands are marked with yellow spots 
arranged transversely, sometimes forming bands, one in the centre, between two black 
bands, and one margining each black band. From behind the limbs to the tip of the 
tail there may be as many as 28 deep black bands, each about half as narrow as the 
pale intervening interspaces, but not passing on to the under surface of the tail. The 
rings of colour on the tail are subject to considerable variation. In North Africa I 
have never observed fewer "than 19, whereas at Karachi they sometimes fall as low as 
8, at Agra to 12, and in Afghanistan and Bushire to 15. The limbs are marbled with 
yellow areas, the darker interspaces finely dotted with black. Underparts pale yellow. 
It attains to about four feet in length. 
This lizard does not occur on the alluvium of Egypt as a rule, but confines itself to 
the desert wadis and khors supporting a sparse vegetation, and to plains, like that 
at Suakin, covered more or less with grass and shrubs. In such localities it finds 
an abundant supply of food in the small rodents and lizards that frequent them. 
Along the banks of the Nile where the desert approaches the river it is said to eat 
the eggs of the crocodile ; and judging by the avidity and dexterity with which it 
swallows fowl's eggs in confinement, without breaking them, it is probable that it is 
not only destructive to crocodile's eggs but also to those of birds and other reptiles. 
Dr. A. Zander says that the strength of its digestive powers is marvellous, as although 
the specimens he kept in confinement swallowed all animals entire, he never found the 
remains of bones among their excreta, but only traces of feathers. I have represented 
this lizard in the attitude it assumes when alarmed and on the defensive. The 
head is raised, the mouth is held open in a menacing manner, showing the deep purple- 
