190 THE HABITS OF MALAY REPTILES. 
Of the habits of the Gavial, Tomistoma Schlegel’, but little 
is knuwn at present. It occurs in the Perak and Pahang rivers, 
where, above Kwala Tembeling, I have seen tracks cn the 
sand banks probably of this species. Sp rtsmen far up the larger 
rivers should keep a look-out for this animal, as well as for 
the Mugger, fer it may be much more widely distributed than 
at present appears. 
LIZARDS. 
Our largest land lizard is the Monitor, Biawak of the 
Malays, often erroneously called an Iguana here, Varanus salva- 
tor. This animal attains a length of seven feet, but its tail forms, 
a large proportion of that length. It always lives near water, 
either river or pond, or the sea, in which it quickly takes refuge 
when pursued. It dives very well, and remains a long time 
under the water. If it is unable to get into water, it will quick- 
ly climb a tree when alarmed. It gallops at a great pace when 
frightened, though very clumsily, and the noise it makes dash- 
ing thr ugh the bushes is out of all proportion tvits size. When 
cornered, it defends itself by lashing out with its tail, and mak- 
ing a fuffing ncise like a spitting cat. It also bites very fiercely. 
It is carnivorous, feeding en birds, rats, fish and insects, often 
attacking poultry. When a rat is given to it, it seizes it in its 
mouth and shakes it like a dog, then after biting its body all the 
way down till all the bones are broken, swallows it whole. In 
captivity I have never heard it make any noise but the spitting 
sound, but Malays have told me that a loud barking ha-ha-ha 
which I have heard-in swamps is the cry of the Biawak. The 
egos are large and white, with a soft shell like that of a turtle, 
and are deposited in holes in sandy ground and covered up. I 
once found at Bruas, in the Dindings, a monitor laying its eggs 
in a shallow hole. The Malays, however, have astory t- the 
effect that when the eggs of a crocodile hatch, all the young 
ones which go towards the water become crocodiles and those 
which run on the land become Monitors. 
Besides the common Monitor, V. sa/vator, there are three 
other kinds to be met with here. V. flavescens, Penang and 
Jelebu ; V. nebulosus, Penang and Malacca ; and V. rudzcollis, 
Malacca. ‘These are all smaller than the common kind. 
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