HYDROSAURUS 141 



151; WiEGMANN, Herp. Mex. (1834) 14; Fitzinger, Syst. Rept. 



(1843) 49; Gray, Cat. Liz. (1845) 247. 

 Istiurus CuviER, Reg. Anim. ed. 2 2: 41. 

 Istiurus, part., Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 4 (1837) 376. 



Tympanum distinct. Body strongly compressed with a large 

 fanlike crest on basal part of tail; a dorsal crest of lanceolate 

 spines; throat longitudinally plicate, with numerous skin folds 

 on sides of neck and shoulder; a transverse gular fold; toes 

 with lateral fringe of enlarged scales ; tail strongly compressed ; 

 femoral pores present. 



This genus is distributed throughout the East Indies. The 

 species deposit eggs usually along the banks of streams. They 

 are vegetarians and eat the leaves of plants, and even feed in 

 trees growing along streams and rivers. They are largely 

 aquatic and can run across the surface of water with ease. 

 They frequently dive and can remain under water more than a 

 minute. 



The flesh is prized as food by many of the Philippine peoples. 

 It is variously known as ibid (Visayan) ; balubid (Tagalog), 

 huniango (Ilocano). 



HYDROSAURUS PUSTULOSUS (Eschscholtz) 



Histiurus pustulatus Eschscholtz, Zool. Atlas. (1829) pi. 7. 



Lophura pustulata Wiegmann, Nova Acta Acad. Caes.-Leop. Carol. I 

 17 (1835) 207. 



Lophura amboinensis Gunther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1873) 168; 

 Boulenger, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 1 (1885) 402 (part.) ; Parent: and 

 PiCAGLiA, Atti. Soc. Nat. Modena, Mem. Orig. Ill 5 (1886) 18. 



Description of species. — (From No. 1416, Bureau of Science 

 collection; collected on Polillo, October, 1909, by C. Canonizado.) 

 Head moderately large; snout longer than diameter of orbit; 

 snout rapidly elevated with a strong nasal crest beginning be- 

 hind rostral; latter moderately large, broader than high, bor- 

 dered laterally by first labials, behind by five small scales ; nasal 

 crest composed of four or five compressed scales with enlarged 

 scales at their base; nostril in a single raised nasal followed 

 by a groove, behind and below which are two or three much- 

 enlarged scales; canthus rostralis moderately distinct, contin- 

 uous with superciliary border, formed of larger compressed 

 scales; eleven and twelve upper labials, bordered above by a 

 row of slightly smaller scales, these separated from other frenal 

 scales by a fairly straight depressed line; subocular scales in a 

 straight line; head scales strongly keeled, small, fairly uniform, 

 with a large white pineal "eye-spot;'' a few enlarged tubercular 



