158 LIZARDS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



Measurements of Mahuya multicarinata (Gray). 



mm. 



Total length 220 



Snout to vent 75 



Tail 145 



Snout to foreleg 27.5 



Axilla to groin 35 



Foreleg 27 



Hind leg 37 



Variation. — Many specimens have only four instead of five 

 small labials anterior to the large subocular; the scale rows 

 vary from tvi^enty-eight to thirty-two. A certain amount of 

 variation in coloration is evident. Frequently there is a lighter 

 line above the broad, lateral, brown stripe, and occasionally there 

 is a trace of a median lighter line; not infrequently, especially 

 in younger specimens, the light stripe of upper labials continues 

 back to groin as a stripe below the broad, lateral, brown band. 

 A young specimen found in the mountains near Baguio by my 

 wife. Hazel Clark Taylor, shows a striking variation in markings. 

 This specimen has three distinct creamy white markings down 

 the middle of the back, none of which borders the brown lateral 

 stripe. This may represent a distinct species. 



Remarks. — Skinks of this species are extremely common in 

 the Philippines wherever there is forest. In places they are 

 incredibly numerous, especially along roadways or sunny, open 

 spots in a forest. They do not take to cover when disturbed, 

 but continue running in various directions, which habit makes 

 them difficult to capture. They lay eggs, usually in leaves or 

 under the bark of fallen logs. They are for the most part ter- 

 restrial but ascend small trees and brush in search of insects. 

 They are known in the Philippines as tabili, tamhuli, tamhilihan, 

 bubuli, etc. Most Filipino peoples do not differentiate them 

 from other skinks of this and other genera. 



The species is widely distributed throughout the Achipelago, 

 as is Mahuya multifasciata. It has been reported from the 

 Babuyan Islands, north of Luzon, and I have taken specimens 

 in Bongao Island in the southern part of the Sulu Archipelago. 

 It has been taken on practically all the larger intervening is- 

 lands and in Palawan. It was noted that southern specimens 

 usually averaged two to four scale rows more than the northern 

 specimens. Known also from Borneo. 



MABUYA MULTIFASCIATA Kuhl 



Mahuya multifasciata Kuhl, Beitr. Zool. Vergl. Anat. (1820) 126. 

 Scincus carinatus, part., Schneider, Hist. Amph. 2 (1801) 183. 

 Lacerta rufescens, part., Shaw, Zoology 3: 285. 



