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ries 3 to 4 eggs of an oval cylindrical shape, of an inch in length, and of a yellowish white colour.-Of a number examined none exceeded the following dimensions:

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B.-Tympanum hidden by scales. (DRACUNCULUS, Wiegmann.)

DRACO MACULATUS, (Gray.)

SYN.-Dracunculus maculatus, Gray.*

HABIT.-Pinang.

Tenasserim.

Form. This species closely resembles Draco lineatus, Daudin, (Dracunculus lineatus, Wiegmann,) from which it differs in the following particulars. The adult male carries a very elongated, pointed gular pouch, double the length of the head, and a slightly elevated cervical crest, consisting of 6 to 8 pointed tubercular scales, and continued along the anterior half of the back in the shape of a ridge composed of a raised fold of the skin. The female has neither cervical crest nor dorsal ridge, and her gular pouch is much reduced, its length being about one half of the length of the head. Both sexes have the following characters in common. From each side of the neck commences a series of spinous scales, sometimes close together on one side, distant on the other, which, increasing in size and becoming more distant, continue along the side of the body, where they deviate outwards, marking the origin of the wings, and again converge towards the root of the tail, where they terminate. The scales of the back are generally smooth, consisting of smaller polygonal, mixed with some larger rhombic, indistinctly keeled, imbricate scales. In some individuals the latter are disposed so as to form a series on each side of the dorsal spine. The supraorbital margin has from 3 to 4 large pointed tubercles, of which but the one situated at the posterior angle appears

Grey, black-spotted; wings blackspotted; throat grey; pouch of the male elongate; scales of the back rather unequal, rhombic, keeled; of the sides rather smaller; sides with a series of large keeled scales; ears rather sunk, with unequal flat scales; tail slender, with a central keel above, and 5 more small ones on the sides, base dilated, with 5 nearly equi-distant equal kecls above." (Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards, &c. p. 236.)

to be constant.

The scales of the neck and throat are small granular, from which those covering the tympanum differ by being larger, flattened and polygonal. The tubercles of the throat and neck, and many of the scales of the back, wing-membranes, and the limbs, have each a minute rounded cavity at the point, discernible by a lens. The pouches, chest and abdomen are covered with rhombic, imbricate, keeled scales without apical cavities. Each jaw has 16 labial scales. The tail is long, very broad at the base, particularly in the male, suddenly tapering, rounded above, and covered with strongly keeled, imbricate, rhombic scales. The first large ones of the lowest series of the root form a more or less conspicuous toothed crest. The lower surface is flattened, with scales like the upper. The apex of the tongue is notched.

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Colours. This species bears so close a resemblance to Draco volans, that it is scarcely possible to point out any difference. The upper parts of the body are metallic greenish brown, varied with golden rosecolour or isabella, indistinctly dotted and lined with black. The wings are golden isabella with transversal black bands, formed by series of black rounded spots, either separate or confluent on the inner half, but blending into one another on the outer-half. In some individuals numerous undulating golden rose-coloured or buff lines longitudinally intersect the bands. The margins are finely fringed with silver. The limbs and tail are indistinctly ringed with black or brown. A black spot on the vertex, between the eyes, appears to be constant also in this species. The gular pouch and the throat are bright yellow, the latter in some dotted with pale brown. The chest and abdomen whitish yellow in some, bluish white in others. The under surface of the wings is of the latter colour, in some with single large rounded black spots near the margins, independent of the upper markings, which may be distinguished through the hemitransparent membrane.

Of this species but four, of which 2 males were received from Sir Wm. Norris. They were all from the Hills of Pinang ;* none exceeded the following dimension :

* The Museum of the Asiatic Society possesses two females, obtained by the late Dr. Spry in the Tenasserim Provinces.

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The capacious stomach contained remains of insects, particularly of the gigantic black ant, inhabiting the Malayan hill forests. The first portion of Duodenum is much widened till within a quarter of an inch from Pylorus, where Ductus coledochus enters. Cœcum is of a short crescent shape, much widened as well as the large intestine. In the abdominal cavity appeared 5 eggs, of an oval form, yellowish white colour, each half an inch in length.

GEN. LEIOLEPIS, Cuvier, apud Duméril and Bibron.

Head sub-pyramidal quadrangular with minute, polygonal, tubercular scales. Tympanic membrane a little sunk. Tongue scaly on the anterior, papillary on the posterior half, apex bifid. Chest with a transversal fold in front. Two canines in each jaw. Trunk sub-cylindrical with granular scales above; beneath with larger, smooth, imbricate, rectangular scales. Femoral pores. Tail conical, very long; the root broad and depressed, the rest excessively slender.

To these characters it will be necessary to add: Skin of the sides of the trunk excessively lax, capable of being expanded into a large winglike membrane by means of the six anterior, very long, spurious ribs. LEIOLEPIS BELLII, (Gray.)

SYN.-Uromastix bellii, Gray.

Uromastix belliana, IIl. Ind. Zool.*

Guérin.

Leiolepis guttatus, Cuvier, apud Duneril and Bibron.

Cynosaurus punctatus, Schlegel.

Leiolepis bellii, Gray: Catal.

In the supposition that this incorrectly drawn and coloured figure has been taken from the living animal, M. M. Duméril and Bibron have been led to publish an erroneous description and figure. The last description of this species of Mr. Gray appears to be founded on the same authority. It runs thus: " Olive with black edged white spots and a black edged white streak on each side, beneath whitish." Catal, &c. p. 263.

Ground-colour, above blackish-grey; the back and sides with 7 parallel lines of pale sulphur colour, edged with black, the 2nd from below, the 4th and 6th composed of more or less confluent spots, the other 3 of distant round spots. The expanded membrane black with 7 or 8 broad distant, transversal bars of a brilliant orange. The tail above with numerous small pale yellow spots. The forelegs with orange coloured rounded spots, some of which tipped with azure; the hindlegs minutely spotted with yellow. The throat pale azure; abdomen pale orange, marbled with broad bluish black veins; the tail beneath pale yellowish white. The lower eyelid is pure white; pupil circular, iris hazel with a narrow golden ring.

HABIT.-Malayan Peninsula, Pinang.

Cochin-China.

The head is covered with small elongated polygonal keeled scales; the upper jaw with 26, the lower with 18 to 20. The mental shield is elongated, polygonal; the upper part of the sides is joined to the first lower labial scale; the centre part is on each side in contact with the first of series of 13 to 15 elongated polygonal scales, which follow the tract of the labial, between which there is a narrow intervening space covered with smooth polygonal scales, larger than those of the rest of the throat. The back and wing-membranes are covered with minute granular scales; the abdomen with larger smooth rhombic scales. Those of the tail, above and beneath are verticillated, rectangular, subimbricate, and strongly keeled. The tongue is thick, fungous, not scaly as incorrectly represented, with the tip much flattened, free and slightly extensile, divided in two laterally compressed sharp points.— The molar teeth are tricuspidate, increasing in size, the anterior being the smallest. In the adult they are much worn and incrustated with brown tartar, like the teeth of Semnopitheci and Ruminantia.

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The nails are long, slightly arched, of a pale yellowish horn-colour. The wing-membrane in a state of repose appears like a longitudinal loose fold, extending along each side from the axilla to the inguinal region. Expanded the external margin becomes arched, the trunk and the membranes forming a greatly flattened oval disk, (strongly contrasting

with the bulky appearance of the parts in a state of repose,) resembling the hood of Naja. The transversal diameter of the disk across axilla and the inguinal region is 1 inch; across the centre 23 inches. Like the mechanism of the Genus Draco, the membranes are expanded by means of the very long six anterior pairs of spurious ribs, which the lizard has the power of moving forward under a right angle with the vertebral column. The six posterior ones are excessively short, and though equally moveable, do not appear materially to assist in expanding the membranes. The latter are used as a parachute in leaping from branch to branch, after which they immediately resume their state of repose. Sudden fear, or anger will also cause a momentary expansion. The femoral pores are situated on a series of rather large rhombic scales on each thigh. In a number of twelve adult individuals, the pores varied from 13 to 19 on each thigh. In the specimens in the Paris Museum, described by M. M. Duméril and Bibron, there are from 20 to 24 on each thigh.

This species appears to be numerous, but local. Twelve were at one time obtained from a spice plantation in province Wellesley, some of which were in the act of changing the integuments. They were very active and swift, more so than their rather heavy make would induce to believe, and they would bite and scratch when handled, although among themselves in a spacious cage, they appeared peaceable, and patiently submitted to being trodden, or run over by a neighbour, about ascending the perch. The Malay, who brought the lizards, asserted they were frugivorous, and might be fed with soft fruit and boiled rice, which was perfectly true. In one immediately examined, the stomach and intestines contained rounded seeds of various kinds from the smallest size to that of a large pea, and vegetable fibres.*

The rest refused insects and different kinds of fruit, but during the several months' confinement each would daily eat a little boiled rice, and occasionally take water. Of these none exceeded the following dimensions: Length of the head,. Ditto ditto trunk,. Ditto ditto tail,.

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Entire length,

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42

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1 foot 5 inch.

* The latter, however, as well as sand and fragments of stones, also occur in carnivorous and insectivorous lizards, as well as serpents, which swallow these substances to stimulate digestion.

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