IS 72.] F. Stoliczka — On Indian Lizards. 107 



reddish brown ones, are prevalent, the green is during life much mixed with yel- 

 low or white, and the width of the hands and spots themselves is very variable 

 during life ; a bluish tinge is often seen on the neck and on the sides of the 

 body of male specimens. The end of the gular sac in the male is deep blue, (not 

 black). The male also has the lower labials generally bluish brown, the 

 upper often bright yellowish white, sometimes, however, both are reddish or 

 pale brown. Numerous brown streaks radiate from the eye, one of these 

 directed towards the tympanoid region is about twice as broad as any of the 

 others ; sometimes it is divided by a median line in two, but very rarely it is 

 indistinct. In the females the contrasts between the colours is always less, 

 they very often have uniform greenish and pale reddish tints prevalent. The 

 larger scales occasionally form a distinct row on each side of the back, which 

 thus becomes apparently tricarinate, as in the form noticed by Jerdon under 

 the specific name microlepis. (See Proc. Asiat. Soc, Feb. 1870, p. 76). 



Very common in Sikkhn from elevations of 1,000 up to 9,000 feet. 

 It is, strictly speaking, a ground lizard, hunting between stones and low 

 bushes, but also takes refuge on a tree. It appears to be more common on 

 higher than on lower elevations, but those living between 9,000 and 5,000 

 seem to reach the largest size. 



I was somewhat surprised in reading Dr. Anderson's results (loc. cit.) 

 of the examination of 21 specimens " of all ages and both sexes, from one 

 locality," that is, the neighbourhood of Darjiling. Dr. Anderson arrived 

 at the conclusion that Jerdon' s microlepis is the female, and Jerdon's plani- 

 dorsata the young of variegata. Now as I have* not only observed hundreds 

 of living specimens of Japalura variegata in Sikkim, but have also collected 

 and examined them, I may be allowed to say a few words on this subject. 



I find 1st, that the males of variegata often are smaller than the 

 females, or at any rate that the latter generally grow to a larger size than 

 the former ; 2nd, that the males have the enlarged scales on the back and 

 particularly the spiny ones on the sides of the occiput comparatively larger 

 and more numerous than the females, the difference being most marked in 

 full grown specimens and in the breeding season, but I have collected male and 

 female specimens in which the scales were nearly equally largely developed, 

 and there is no apparent difference in the size of the smaller scales between 

 the two sexes ; 3rd, that the nuchal and dorsal crest in the male is, 

 especially on the neck, comparatively higher than hi the female, and that 

 it generally is on either side accompanied by a series of somewhat enlarged, 

 closely set scales, more conspicuous in smaller than in larger specimens, but 

 they are not equally distinct in the female ; 4th, that the colours in 

 both sexes are similar and equally variable, but always brighter and more 

 variegated in the male, particularly the green and yellow ; 5th, that in young 

 * And so undoubtedly had Dr. Jerdon, 



