F. Stoliczka — On Indian Lizards. 
Ill 
1872.] 
otlier somewhat posterior, but close to the tympanal edge. In size the 
tympanum very nearly equals the eye. A longitudinal series of about 7 or 8 
enlarged scales below the eye. There are generally 10 or 11 flat upper, and 
12 or 13, somewhat more convex, lower labials, both squarish, except the last 
which are much elongated. Lower rostral posteriorly much elongated, fol- 
lowed on each side by a row of 4 — 6 enlarged scales, separated by smaller 
ones from the lower labials. 
All the scales of the head, body and tail above and below are imbricate, 
being arranged in somewhat indistinct cross series, and all are keeled. In 
young specimens the keels below are very distinct, in older ones they 
often become less marked, but except in the middle of the belly never entire- 
ly obsolete. At the sides' the scales are intermixed with a few slightly larger 
ones, the latter being in younger specimens generally easily seen, but in 
adults they are more difficult to trace. There are SO — 100 longitudinal rows 
of scales round the middle of the body. The scales on the tail are larger 
than those of the body, and again those along the upper median line exceed 
the adjoining somewhat in size. A distinct, though low, nuchal and dorsal 
crest is present in both sexes, disappearing on the tail ; it is more developed 
in the male than in the female. 
The fore leg reaches to the groin when laid backward. The hind leg 
generally reaches to the front edge of the eye, when laid foreward ; in some 
few very old specimens it only reaches to the posterior edge. 
Young specimens are olive brown above, marbled and spotted with dark 
brown, with two dark cross bands on the upper snout, and one connecting 
the middle of the supraeiliary edges. Along the middle of the back there 
are usually some enlarged, lozenge-shaped, brown spots. The sides are 
speckled with white, orange or red, this colour being generally confined to 
the enlarged scales. A brown band proceeds from the eye to the shoulder, 
margined below by a more or less distinct white band. Ihe tail is encircled 
with brown and alternate whitish bands, generally interrupted on the lower 
side which is uniform dingy white. Full grown females retain the same 
colouration as the young, except that the series of lozenge-shaped spots on the 
back is more distinct, but males vary enormously in colour, exactly as in 
Charasia dorsalis. The lateral black streak on the neck is always distinct, 
but the entire head and anterior part of the body above and below become 
brilliant scarlet, or more often zinnabar red, while the posterior part is nearly 
entirely black ; all the colours, however, change very rapidly after death. 
The largest specimen measures 12 inches, of which the body is very 
nearly 4 inches. 
Although closely allied to the South Indian Cliarasia dorsalis, the 
present form is fairly separable by its comparatively longer limbs, larger, more 
distinctly imbricated and stronger keeled scales, which are present round the 
