88 F. Stoliczka — On Indian Lizards. [No. 1, 



On the lower side of the body I find constantly only six longitudinal 

 rows of scales on the chest between the axils, one ridge connects the axil 

 with the groin at the edge of the belly and above this follow always two, 

 only in very old specimens sometimes three, shorter rows of enlarged keeled 

 scales. Thus there are on the lower half of the circumference of the body, 

 strictly speaking, 12 series of longitudinal rows of enlarged scales, 6 on the 

 lower side of the belly and 3 (rarely 4) on each side of it. Dum. and Bibron 

 correctly refer to the " six series longitudinales" along the lower side of the 

 belly, and besides to the enlarged scales on the flanks, not, however, defining 

 then exact number, most likely because they found them to be variable. 

 Dum. and Bibron's statement cannot, therefore, be attributed to a probable 

 misprint, as suggested by Dr. Giinther (1. cit., p. 69). 



The coloration and size and proportions of the Sikkim specimens exact- 

 ly correspond with those of sexlineatus. Some have a white iridescent 

 stripe along the edge of the back ; others are uniform green above, with a 

 more or less distinct bronze tint. The fore-limb reaches to the rostral and 

 the hind-limb nearly, or exactly to the axil, when laid forward. Of all the 

 specimens examined, there is only one with two inguinal pores on each side, 

 several have 3, but most 4 or 5 pairs, often succeeded by a sixth imperfectly 

 developed one. 



What follows from these observations is : 



1st. — That the Tacliydromi cannot be grouped with sufficient reliance, 

 either by the number of chin-shields, or by the number of inguinal pores, as 

 suggested by Dr. Giinther, these two characters being evidently very variable 

 within the limits of one species ; and that the most important difference 

 must rest in the number and size of the scales of the body, the proportions 

 of the limbs and the general form. 



2nd. — That the specific distinction between T. oneridionalis and sexli- 

 neatus is not so definite, as it would appear to be from Giinther's descrip- 

 tion of the former species. Both appear to have an indistinct short fold 

 before the shoulder, when adult, but in oneridionalis there are said to be 2 or 

 3 more transverse rows of scales between axil and groin, and the limbs would 

 seem to be slightly shorter. Whether these points represent sufficiently 

 characteristic distinctions, can only be shewn by the examination of a larger 

 number of specimens. 



3rd. — That T. Hauglitonianus (Jerdon, Proc. A. Soc. B., Feb. 1870, 

 p. 72) must range with Giinther's septemtrionalis (and not with T. Japonicus), 

 and as the number of chin-shields is not characteristic, the two are evidently 

 closely allied, but in the former the median row of dorsal scales is not smaller 

 than the lateral ones ; the fore limb does not reach the rostral shield, when 

 laid forward, nor the hind-limb the axil. 



