1853.] Catalogue of Reptiles inhabiting the Peninsula of India. 475 



Agama doesalis — Gray. 



Nostrils small, somewhat tubular ; occipital plate very small, 

 simple; a small group of spines behind the ear, which is large. 

 Dorsal crest almost wanting ; scales , above small, equal, keeled, 

 those beneath smooth. 



This large rock lizard is only partially distributed in Southern 

 India, and is only found at some elevation above the sea. It is most 

 abundant in Mysore, and especially so in the neighbourhood of 

 Bangalore, where it may be seen on every bare rock about. It is 

 also not uncommon on the edges of the Nilgherries up to the height 

 of nearly 6000 feet. Its normal colour and that of the female at 

 all times is a dusky grey with dark markings. The male can assume 

 a very bright livery, viz. fine vermilion red above, with a streak 

 through the eyes ; under surface, limbs and tail black : occasionally 

 the red is exchanged for yellow. It frequents bare rocks only, 

 and retreats into holes and clefts on the approach of danger. 



Length of a fine male 16 inches, of which the tail is 10^.* 

 Earn. VABANID^. 



Gen. YAKAOTS— Vide Cantor 1. c. p. 633. 

 Vaeanus DKACiEtfA — L. {Query Linne /) 

 Tupin. hengalensis, Daud. — V. guttatus, Merr. — V. argus, Merr. 

 — Tup. cepedianus, Daud. and Kuhl. — V. punctatus, Merr. and Less. 

 ■ — Mon. gemmatus, Guer. Ic. E. A. — V. Bibroni, Blyth, J. A. S. 

 1842, p. 869. 



Nostril situate exactly between the eye and muzzle. Tail com- 

 pressed with a strongly dentated ridge. 



This species of Monitor appears generally spread throughout the 

 whole of India. It is chiefly nocturnal in its habits and frequents 

 jungly places. It is by no means confined to the neighbourhood of 

 water, though perhaps it prefers such a locality. It defends itself 

 most vigorously by striking with its tail. It can climb well both 

 trees and walls, and it is popularly believed, that thieves make use of 

 it to effect an entrance into a building or over a wall by allowing 

 the guana to get hold by its fore-claws of the window sill or wall 

 and pulling themselves up by it. It is eaten by the natives, who 



* The Society possesses a specimen from Pind Dadun Khan, presented by W. 

 Theobald, Esq., Junr.— Cur. As. Soc. 



