1870.] Indian and Malayan Amphibia' and Repiilia. 223 



of the ventrals dark ashy, or blackish in more fully grown speci- 

 mens ; tail strongly j> r ehensile, laterally compressed; and always 

 provided with largish dark spots, its ground color being a light 

 or whitish grey. 



The following ave the principal variations of coloring &c, which 

 I have observed in specimens of various sizes; with one exception 

 the specimens are all from the Nicobars : — 



a. and b. Total length 12 inches, of which the tail is 2 inches, 27 rows of 

 scales, ventrals 174, subcaudals 75, the last very large, cylindrical : dull green 

 with five alternating series of small dark spots on the body, a white streak on 

 the head and on the side of the body ; below, greyish white ; length of head 

 *§ inches, width at the base ^ inches; Another young specimen, perfectly 

 similar in coloration, measures about 14 inches, but the lateral streak on the 

 head is absent. 



As regards the very small size of the scales on the body and on the 

 head, as well as regards the coloration &c, these two specimens so very 

 much agree with the description given by Steindachnerof Trim, la- 

 bialis, F i t z. (Novara exped., Reptilia, p. 86, pi. 3, fig. 1.) that I am very 

 much inclined to believe the latter to be only a variety of T. Cantoris. Stein- 

 d a c h n e r mentions, however, only 23 rows of scales, while in 14 specimens 

 which I have examined, of all ages, the number of rows was never less than 27 

 and usually 28 or 29. Could perhaps 23 be a misprint for 28 ? Further in T, 

 labialis, the supranasals are contiguous, but this character is of little value, as 

 in some of our specimens the single azygous shield is almost obsolete, though 

 always present. Fitzinger's species cannot be referred to T. miitabilis 

 which never has more than 21 rows of very much larger scales, particularly 

 those of the head ; its coloration also does not agree with that of the last men- 

 tioned species. 



c. Total length 19f inches, tail 2f ;. 29 series of scales, ventrals 184, subcau- 

 dals 62 ; bright green above with some indistinct dark spots, eye streak indis- 

 tinct, lateral band distinct ; pale green below -, tail ashy, spotted with brown, 

 (From Port Blair). 



d. Total length 22J, tail 4| inches ; 28-29 series of scales, ventrals 174, sub- 

 caudals 73, the 11th and 14th are entire; dull green above, paler at the sides, 

 greenish white below, lateral streak on the head and body distinct. 



e. Total length 23f", tail 3"; 29 series of scales, ventrals 175, subcaudals 57 ; 

 length of head \\", its width at the base 1 inch ; dull green above with some 

 dark spots on the head and body, whitish below with the base of ventrals 

 dark, lateral band distinct ; sides of head pale, but no trace of a distinct streak. 



/. Total length 33| inches, tail 4§"', length of head If', width 1£" ; 29 rows of 

 scales, ventrals 182, subcaudals 60 ; dark brown above with many scales partially 

 or wholly of a greenish lighter color, and with large brownish pale spots on the 



29 



