866 Asiatic Society. [No. 129. 



and the scales flatter : on the fore-limbs anteriorly, the scales form hexagons, and are 

 larger than elsewhere : the tail is clad with transverse series of oblong subquadrangular 

 scales, those of its sides a little carinated, and the inferior scarcely exceeding them 

 in size; along the ridge of the tail is a double serrated crest of laterally triangular 

 scales, more strongly developed than in either of the following species : the under 

 surface of the neck, breast, and inside of the limbs, are clad with rounded oval scales, 

 and the belly with transverse series of others having an elongate subquadrangular 

 form. The colour of this specimen is greenish olive-brown on the upper parts, very 

 prettily and uniformly marbled with meandering lines of black scales, this black 

 being nearly as broad as the intervals of ground-colour left between its courses : the 

 head inclines to yellowish green, and has the black markings large and bolder ; and 

 the extremity of the tail is similar in hue, having the markings gradually fewer tity 

 they disappear: the under-parts are whitish, deeply tinged with yellowish-green on 

 the neck, which is marbled as on the upper-parts, only that the lines are broken or 

 not continuous ; and the breast and belly are merely spotted with black, though the 

 whitish scales are also minutely freckled with the same, the markings on the under 

 surface of the tail being less defined. A constant character of this species is to have a 

 black streak proceeding backward from the eye, which is broader and more developed 

 than in the following species ; and the toes have each a distinct yellow streak along 

 their upper surface. Of various young Varani which we possess in spirits, there is 

 only one which I incline to refer, with some hesitation, to the present species, the princi- 

 pal objection being that its claws do not appear to be proportionally large enough: the 

 situation of the nostrils and proportion of the superorbital bones are, however, the 

 same, and I can perceive no characteristic difference in the scaling ; but the markings 

 are more different, appearing on the upper parts of this one as irregular transverse series 

 of pale yellowish-olive spots — each occupying three or four scales— on a dusky ground- 

 tint, while beneath the colour is almost uniform yellowish, having transverse narrow 

 dusky streaks on the throat and neck, and others extending downwards from the sides, 

 but interrupted along the middle, where are only a few scattered specks ; the under 

 surface of the tail being altogether without markings. 



2. V. Picquotii, Dumeril and Bibron. The specimen sent of this reptile, measures 

 thirty -two inches in length, of which the tail is seventeen inches, being deficient of 

 about an inch and a half of its extremity ; from muzzle to orifice of ear is two 

 inches and a half, and the nostrils are only half an inch distant from the former, 

 being placed considerably more forward than in the preceding species ; length of 

 fore-limb to end of middle claw four inches and three-quarters, and of hind-limb to end 

 of longest claw five inches and a quarter, the toes being comparatively very short, 

 and the claws, especially the posterior, small for a Varanus. The head is covered 

 with small polygonal plates, and the scales of the body are considerably larger than in 

 either of the others, their form an elongate oval and much carinated, but becoming 

 circular towards the occiput, where especially they are much larger than in the 

 preceding species. The tail is more compressed towards its base than in V. Benga- 

 lensis, and also less attenuated or drawn out at the tip ; the double serrature of its upper 

 ridge is less strongly marked, and its scales are smaller and much narrower or more 

 elongate, being also but little larger on its under surface than on the sides : those 

 on the under part of the neck are nearly circular, becoming more oval towards and 



