190 DR. N. ANNANDALE ON 



behind the occipital scale are edged with white, and there are two or three broad, dark, 

 pale-edged bars across the top of the head in front of this scale, the posterior bar being 

 the most conspicuous. A black spot in front of the shoulder is constant in both sexes. 



Boulenger's description of the coloration of C. versicolor in the " Fauna of India " 

 is sufficiently exact as regards specimens preserved in spirit. Living specimens, especi- 

 ally females, have sometimes a greenish tinge, while young individuals of both sexes 

 are easily recognized on account of a pale line which runs along each side and is often 

 joined to its pair by dark cross-bars. The markings on the head in females may be 

 similar to, but less conspicuous than, those on that of C. gigas. A satisfactory detailed 

 account of the colour of the living C. versicolor is, however, rendered impossible by the 

 powers of colour- change the Lizard possesses. As in the true Chameleon, with which 

 this Lizard is frequently confused, these powers are regulated chiefly by psychological 

 stimuli. 



As regards actual dimensions, C. versicolor does not reach those of C. gigas. The 

 following measurements show the bulk attained by well-developed adults of both sexes ; 

 they are taken from species which do not seem to be in any way abnormal as regards size. 

 Possibly, however, the females grow larger than they would indicate : — 



^intensions of Calotes gigas. 



ff 



9 



Total Length 



460 mm. 



. . . 



Head 



35 " 



27 mm 



Body 



95 .» 



74 „ 



Tail 



••• 330 „ 



injured 



Hind Limb 



95 n 



80 „ 



Fore-limb 



60 ,, 



50 „ 



Breadth of Head 



... 26 „ 



18 „ 



Numerous examples of C. gigas were obtained both on Rameswarem Island and on 

 the mainland of Ramanad, and no other form was seen. It is not, however, confined to 

 Southern India. Dr. A. Willey, Director of the Colombo Museum, has kindly sent me 

 specimens from Colombo, where it would appear to be the common form, as it certainly 

 is in the suburbs of Madras. We have specimens in the Museum, which a comparison 

 with fresh ones has enabled me to detect, from Central India, S. Bombay, the North-West 

 Provinces, and Sind ; but the few we have from Baluchistan must be referred to 

 C. versicolor. Whether the two forms occur together in any one locality I have not been 

 able to ascertain with certainty. 



C. gigas, as far as my observations go, is more arboreal, strictly speaking, in its 

 habits |than C. versicolor, which lives chiefly in bushes and on the ground. All the 

 specimens I saw in Ramanad were on tree-trunks or running from tree to tree. The 

 males crawl slowly up the trunks, nodding their heads to the females, which keep out of 

 sight and are difficult to detect. For this reason, by far the greater number of the 

 specimens brought me were males. 



Muhammadans in Ramanad regard Calotes with great dislike and kill it whenever 

 they get an opportunity. They say that some Muhammadans were once hiding in a well 



