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Show 646 MR. STANLEY S. FLOWER ON THE [May 16, Bangkok, in which they were entirely absent x). 30 to 32 scales round the middle of the body, usually 32 (31 in two individuals and 30 in three), subequal; dorsals mostly distinctly tricarinate (in one specimen there are also from one to two subsidiary keels); nuchals less strongly keeled ; laterals very feebly keeled; ventrals smooth. The hind' limb reaches the elbow of the adpressed fore-limb. Subdigital lamella? smooth. Scales on upper surface of arms smooth or very feebly keeled, on upper surface of legs feebly keeled. Colour (in life). These lizards vary so much in colour and markings that they might be separated into an infinite number of varieties; but it seems to m e (at any rate so far as Siamese and Peninsular specimens are concerned) that such divisions would be very artificial. There are certain broad distinctions which can be easily pointed out in selected individuals; but, with a large series before me, I find attempts to define varieties break down, also individual lizards vary at different seasons and under different conditions. An account of the colours of specimens from Borneo by Mr. Edward Bartlett will be found in the Journal, Straits Branch, Royal Asiatic Society, Aug. 1895, pp. 87, 90 & 91. Bangkok and Ayuthia specimens are usually distinguished by a broad dark line along each side, separated from the brown back by a narrow pale line ; thus they almost exactly resemble M. siamensis in colour; but specimens without the dark lateral line and with red sides instead (as is usual with Peninsular specimens) also occur. Coloration of numerous specimens from the 8 localities mentioned on p. 645.-Above rich olive-green, yellowish olive, pale olive-brown, olive-brown, bronze-brown, or bronze ; the back either uniform and immaculate (" Var. E, Dumeril and Bibron " apud Cantor), or with small black spots which sometimes form five longitudinal black lines (" Var. D, D. & B." apud Cantor). I. O n each side, starting from the snout, passing through the eye and continuing on to the tail, a broad rich-dark-brown line. II. Or on each side, starting from above and behind the ear and continuing either halfway down the body or to the inset of the hind leg, a broad red line, highly iridescent, changing to gold, orange, crimson, and green, as the light plays on the living animal (" Var. F, D. & B." apud Cantor, but I have never seen the " square sky-blue spots " he mentions). This line is broadest and brightest behind the shoulder. III. Or the sides may be olive (like the back) with iridescent bronze-red lights, and a line of small black spots where the yellowish upper surface meets the red of the sides. A well-defined pale buff or yellow (sometimes iridescent) dorsolateral line, nearly two scales wide, is frequently present (invariably so in Bangkok and Ayuthia specimens that I have examined), which may be margined anteriorly and inferiorly with black spots. 1 This specimen had some of the dorsal and hind-limb scales bicarinate • possibly it may be a hybrid between M. multifasciata and M. siamensis. |