p, Stoliczka — On Indian Lizards. 
107 
1872.] 
reddish brown ones, are prevalent, the green is during lifemuch mixed with yel- 
low or white, and the width of the bands and spots themselves is very variable 
during life ; a bluish tinge is often seen on the neck and on the sides of the 
body of male specimens. The end of the gular sac in the male is deep blue, (not 
black). The male also has the lower labials generally bluish brown, the 
upper often bright yellowish white, sometimes, however, both are reddish or 
pale brown. Numerous brown streaks radiate from the eye, one of these 
directed towards the tympanoid region is about twice as broad as any of the 
others ; sometimes it is divided by a median lino in two, but very rarely it is 
indistinct. In the females the contrasts between the eohvurs is always less, 
they very often have uniform greenish and pale reddish tints prevalent. The 
larger scales occasionally form a distinct row on each side ol the back, which 
thus becomes apparently tricarinate, as in the form noticed by Jerdon under 
the specific name microlepis. (See Proc. Asiat. Soc., Peb. 1870, P' 70). 
Very common in Sikkim from elevations of 1,000 up to 9,000 feet. 
It is, strictly speaking, a ground lizard, hunting between stones and low 
bushes, but also takes refuge on a tree. It appears to be more common on 
higher than on lower elevations, but those living between 9,000 and 5,000 
seem to reach the largest size. 
I was somewhat surprised in reading Dr. Anderson’s results (loc. cit.) 
of the examination of 21 specimens “ of all ages and both sexes, from one 
locality,” that is, the neighbourhood of Darjiling. Dr. Anderson arrived 
at the conclusion that Jordon’s microlepis is the female, and Jerdon s plani- 
dorsata the young of variegata. Now as I have* not only observed hundreds 
of living specimens of Japalura variegata in Sikkim, hut have also collected 
and examined them, I may be allowed to say a few words on this subject. 
I find 1st, that the males of variegata often are smaller than the 
females, or at any rate that the latter generally grow to a larger size than 
the former ; 2nd, that the males have the enlarged scales on the back and 
particularly the spiny ones on the sides of the occiput comparatively larger 
and more numerous than the females, the difference being most marked in 
full grown specimens and in the breeding season, but I have collected male and 
female specimens in which the scales were nearly equally laigely developed, 
and there is no apparent difference in the size of the smaller scales between 
the two sexes ; 3rd, that the nuchal and dorsal crest in the male is, 
especially on the neck, comparatively higher than in the female, and that 
it generally is on either side accompanied by a series of somewhat enlarged, 
closely set scales, more conspicuous in smaller than in laiger specimens, but 
they are not equally distinct in the female ; 4i th, that the colours in 
both sexes are similar and equally variable, but always brighter and more 
variegated in the male, particularly the green and yellow ; 5 th, that in young 
* And so undoubtedly had Dr. Jerdon. 
