VARANUS 151 



those below much enlarged and very strongly keeled; limbs 

 large, armed with strong claws ; third finger longer than fourth ; 

 fourth toe much the longest; scales under digits tubercular, 

 arranged in transverse rows ; a few enlarged tubercles on inner 

 side of fourth finger and toe, and a few on outer side of third. 

 Color in life, — Above black, with a few scattered yellow spots 

 on limbs and tail ; head uniformly dark, the sides a shade of 

 dark brown ; a yellow spot on point of chin ; belly yellowish, 

 with traces of numerous black bars ; these do not meet medially ; 

 tail lighter below. 



Measurements of Varanus nuchalis (Gilnther) . 



mm. 



Total length 1,050 



Snout to vent 500 



Tail (part missing-) 550 



Snout to foreleg 200 



Snout to eye 44 



Snout to ear 81 



Axilla to groin 225 



Foreleg 157 



Hind leg 196 



Length of head 95 



Width of head 45 



Remarks. — Very little variation is evident. This species 

 apparently does not attain as large a size as Varanus salvator, 

 to which species it is most nearly allied. Its food consists of 

 crabs, insects, slugs, decaying flesh, birds, small mammals, and 

 small reptiles. The species is regarded as edible by some Fili- 

 pinos and does not differ from V. salvator in flavor. 



It is known from Mindoro, Negros, and Luzon, and probably 

 occurs on various other islands. The specimen described is 

 from Dumaguete, Negros. 



VARANUS CUMINGI Martin 

 Plate 10, fig. 2 



Varanus cumingi Martin, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1838) 69. 

 Hydrosaurus cumingii Gunther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1872) 145, 



pi. 7. 

 Varanus cumingii BouLENGER, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 2 (1885) 316. 



Description of species. — (From No. 346, E. H. Taylor col- 

 lection ; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, July, 1913, by 



