192 [No. 3, 



Descriptions of two neiv species, belonging to the genera Varanus, and 

 Feranioides respectively, from near Agra ; by A. C. L. Carlleyle, 

 Esq., Curator, Hiddell Museum at Agra. 



[Received 22nd February, read 3rd March, 1869.] 



Order.— SAURIA. 



family.— VARANIDJE. 



Genus.— VARANUS. 



Species. — T. OrnatUS, Carlleyle* (vide p. 196). 



Habitat. — Neighbourhood of Sikandra, near Agra. 

 Specific character. — Ventral shields, from gular fold to loin, in 116 

 transverse series. Total length of specimen, 29 1 inches. Length of 

 body alone, from end of snout to root of tail, 14| inches. Length of 

 tail 15 J inches. Length of head, from end of snout to nape, 2 inches. 

 Breadth of head above, from ear to ear, 2 inches. Circumference of 

 body, at thickest part, 6f inches. Length of fore leg 3J inches. 

 Length of middle toe with claw -Jth of an inch. Length of hind leg 

 4 inches. Length of second posterior toe with claw, (which is the 

 longest,) 1 inch. The body of this specimen is longer, in proportion, 

 than in either V. dracoena or V. lunatus. 



Description. — Scales of the greater portion of the back oval and 

 slightly, or obtusely, keeled. Scales on the rear of the neck round, very 

 prominent — almost tubercular, pretty sharply keeled, and raised, in 

 their centres, almost to a point. Scales of back between the shoulders, 

 also pretty sharply keeled. The small shields of the abdomen and 

 under side of tail, are of an oblong oval shape, with a slightly 

 raised, gently rounded, boss, or convexity, in the centre of each, 

 surrounded by a narrow depressed border. These convexities are 



* Mr. Carlleyle suggests that a new generic name be introduced for the land- 

 Varani with a round tail. These have been already called by Fitzinger Psammo- 

 sawrus, but the distinctions, as likewise those pointed out in some other forms 

 of Varani, have not been by other naturalists considered sufficient to justify a 

 generic sejDaration. A thorough review of all the various species from different 

 parts of the world would, no doubt, be very desirable, for it is at present difficult 

 to accept several of the numerous generic names suggested, because they are 

 generally adapted to certain type species only, and a discrimination between 

 what is to be called a variation of a genus, or a section, or a sub-genus &c. is by 

 no means easy. It seems rather certain that these limits vary in different 

 species, and that they have to be determined in each instance according to the 

 characters of the group of animals to which they refer. (Ed.) 



