1853.] Notices and Descriptions of various Beptiles. 649 



and terminating abruptly over base of tail. Length of bead and 



body 5f in. Of tail ? Of hind-limb 3f in. Colour apparently 



uniform without markings, but the specimen is much blanched. 



Hab. ? 



5. C. yeksicoloe, Daudin. The most common and generally 

 diffused species, inhabiting all India and Ceylon, from the base of 

 the Himalaya southward, and (according to Mr. Gray) also China 

 and Afghanistan (vide, however, remarks on C. emma). It is the 

 only species we have in Lower Bengal, where it is excessively abun- 

 dant, particularly in gardens. Sir A. Burnes sent a specimen from 

 Sindh ; and we have also one from Rangoon. In the last, however, 

 the scales are somewhat smaller than in Indian specimens, and the 

 two detached spines on the tympanic ridge are remarkably minute ; 

 but there is no other difference. Ceylon specimens, on the other 

 hand, appear commonly to attain a greater size, with somewhat larger 

 scales, the nuchal and dorsal crests and also the gular fanon being 

 rather more developed (and they are then the supposed C. Eouxi 

 apud nos of J". A. S. XXI, 354) ; but smaller and younger specimens 

 from Ceylon are quite undistinguishable from Bengal examples; 

 and it may even be that the latter sometimes attain the size and 

 general development of the Ceylon reptile.* In S. India, again, the 

 changes of colouring (as described by Mr. Jerdon) differ from those 

 of C. yeesicolor of Bengal, and are perhaps the same as in the 

 Ceylon animal. Here the colours are changeable, but no yellow is 

 ever seen ; and in the months of May and June, the males chiefly 

 are often observed with the head and anterior third of the body, 

 inclusive also of the fore-limbs, tolerably bright red, a large black 

 patch before the shoulder, and all the rest plain greenish-brown. 

 They are often altogether of the latter hue without markings ; or 

 the markings come out more or less strongly. The reptile is then 

 commonly brown, lighter or darker, with a series of transverse 

 dusky bands, broken on either side by a longitudinal whitish band 

 which is evanescent, appearing and disappearing and sometimes 

 shewing very conspicuously. A dusky streak through the eye, and 



* Some living examples sent to me from Galle by Dr. Kelaart are quite 

 undistinguishable from living Bengal specimens. 



