1S72.] F. Stoliczka — On Indian Lizards. Ill 



other somewhat posterior, but close to the tympanal edge. In size the 

 tympanum very nearly equals the eye. A longitudinal series of about 7 or 8 

 enlarged scales below the eye. There are generally 10 or 11 flat upper, and 

 12 or 13, somewhat more convex, lower labials, both squarish, except the last 

 which are much elongated. Lower rostral posteriorly much elongated, fol- 

 lowed on each side by a row of 4 — 6 enlarged scales, separated by smaller 

 ones from the lower labials. 



All the scales of the head, body and tail above and below are imbricate, 

 being arranged in somewhat indistinct cross series, and all are keeled. In 

 young specimens the keels below are very distinct, in older ones they 

 often become less marked, but except in the middle of the belly never entire- 

 ly obsolete. At the sides the scales are intermixed with a few slightly larger 

 ones, the latter being in younger specimens generally easily seen, but in 

 adults they are more difficult to trace. There are 80 — 100 longitudinal rows 

 of scales round the middle of the body. The scales on the tail are larger 

 than those of the body, and again those along the upper median line exceed 

 the adjoining somewhat hi size. A distinct, though low, nuchal and dorsal 

 crest is present in both sexes, disappearing on the tail ; it is more developed 

 in the male than in the female. 



The fore leg reaches to the groin when laid backward. The hind leg 

 generally reaches to the front edge of the eye, when laid foreward ; in some 

 few very old specimens it only reaches to the posterior edge. 



Young specimens are olive brown above, marbled and spotted with dark 

 brown, with two dark cross bands on the upper snout, and one connecting 

 the middle of the supraciliary edges. Along the middle of the back there 

 are usually some enlarged, lozenge-shaped, brown spots. The sides are 

 speckled with white, orange or red, this colour being generally confined to 

 the enlarged scales. A brown band proceeds from the eye to the shoulder, 

 margined below by a more or less distmct white band. The tail is encircled 

 with brown and alternate whitish bands, generally interrupted on the lower 

 side which is uniform dingy white. Full grown females retain the same 

 colouration as the young, except that the series of lozenge-shaped spots on the 

 back is more distinct, but males vary enormously in cohrur, exactly as in 

 Charasia dorsalis. The lateral black streak on the neck is always distinct, 

 but the entire head and anterior part of the body above and below become 

 brilliant scarlet, or more often zinnabar red, while the posterior part is nearly 

 entirely black ; all the colours, however, change very rapidly after death. 



The largest specimen measures 12 inches, of which the bod3 r is very 

 nearly 4 inches. 



Although closely allied to the South Indian Cliarasia dorsalis, the 

 present form is fairly separable by its comparatively longer limbs, larger, more 

 distinctly imbricated and stronger keeled scales, which are present round the 



