1852.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 353 



to the great series of Charadriad^e and Scolopacid^s, auct., than 

 they are to the true Palmipedes ; and indeed approximate the Cha- 

 radriad^e, &c, much more than the latter do to either the ArdeidvE 

 or Rallid^e : and therefore they claim to rank rather among the 

 Grallatores than among the Natatores, though the genus Dro- 

 mas alone assumes the characteristic proportions of an ordinary wader. 

 It will be remarked that the habits of Dromas are entirely those of a 

 sea-side Tern : and an egg formerly sent by Mr. Layard as most 

 probably appertaining to this species (and it could not well have 

 belonged to aught else) is further confirmatory of the view here taken 

 of the position of this remarkable genus in the natural system. * 



Porzana zeylanica, (Gm.) Differs from a specimen from Gum- 

 sur in the deep rufous colour being more developed at the base of the 

 nape, and also margining the scapularies, wing-coverts, and longest 

 tail-coverts, where no trace of it is perceptible in the Gumsur speci- 

 men. The latter would seem to be of a distinct variety, if not closely 

 affined species. 



A few other specimens in this class require no special notice. 



Of Reptiles, Dr. Kelaart has forwarded — 



Testudinata. Emys seba, Gray (sent also by Mr. Layard), — and 

 Emyda punctata, Gray (v. Cryptopus granosus, Dumeril and Bibron). 



Sauria. Crocodilus palustris, Lesson; — Monitor dra- 

 cjena, (L.), Gray (v. Varanus bengalensis, D, and B.) ;"f — Hemi- 

 dactylus FRiENATUS, Schl. ; H. Coct^ei, D. and B. (common in 

 Bengal, but not hitherto observed in S. India) ; H. Leschenaultii, 

 D. and B. ; — Lyriocephalus scutatus, (L.), 5 adults; Calotes 

 ophiomachus, (Merrem) ; C. versicolor, (Daud.) : — C. Rouxi (?), 

 Dumeril and Bibron, and C. mystaceus, Dumeril and Bibron, were 

 sent formerly by Mr. Layard. 



the seasonal changes of colouring of the genus Hydrochelidon in particular: 

 by the voice likewise ; and by their haunts and general habits. 



* In Podica and Heliornis we recognise the converse modification, in a Ral- 

 lidous genus presenting the proportions of an ordinary swimmer. N. B. It should 

 be remarked that we perceive little affinity between the true Larid^e and the 

 Procellaridve (or Albatrosses and Petrels). 



f V. Bibroni, nobis, J. A. S. XI, 869, we now consider to be a variety merely 

 of this species, which appears to be the only Varanus of all peninsular India. 



