EEPTILIA. 



Order Saura. 



Sub-order Leptoglossae. 

 Tribe Cyclosaura. 

 Family Monitoridae. 

 Genus Hydrosaurus. 



Hydrosaurus Salvator (Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. p. 13). 

 Varanus bivittatus (Dum. and Bib.). 

 Biawak (Malay name). 



Colour — upper parts black ; the back irregularly speckled with 

 yellow, a few ocellated spots of the same colour occurring here and 

 there ; on the tail the yellow markings are arranged so as to form 

 transverse bands at irregular intervals, and towards the tip become 

 distinct rings embracing the whole circumference of that part of the 

 tail — the lower parts are yellow ; above the line where the black 

 and yellow of the upper and lower parts meet, the black is varied 

 with large distinct ocellated spots of yellow, between which black lines 

 extend at regular intervals towards the centre of the belly; below 

 the throat and chin some of these lines meet below — the muzzle 

 is yellow, with a transverse black band between the nostrils and the 

 tip. The outer skin of the specimen we have taken the above 

 description from, and which is preserved in spirits, has in a great 

 measure peeled oiF, leaving the prevailing colours of the animal black 

 and white ; when fresh killed, however, they were black and yellow. 



Size and measurements — the nostrils are placed a third part of the 

 way from the tip of the muzzle to the front corner of the eye. 



Total length, 2 feet 2 inches. 



Length from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the tail, 10 inches, 

 „ of head, from the tip of the muzzle to the ear, 1 inch 1 



lines. 

 „ from the tip of the muzzle to the anterior corner of the 

 eye, 1 inch. 



On the feet, the fourth claw is the longest. 



These Lizards are not uncommon in Labuan, sometimes 

 attaining the length of five or six feet, and in some Malay 

 countries they are called Buaya diderat or " Alligator ashore." 

 When large they are very destructive to fowls, and when 



