357 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAUNA 

 OF BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 



No. I. 



Communicated by Thos. Steel, F.L.S., F.C.S. 



Introduction. 



Some time ago I received from my friend, the Rev. H. P. 

 Schlencker, of the London Missionary Society, a miscellaneous 

 collection of natural history specimens from the vicinity of Fife 

 Bay, British New Guinea. 



As our knowledge of the distribution of the Papuan fauna is 

 but meagre, and Mv. Schlencker's collection comprises some forms 

 of considerable interest, I have jDlaced the following account of 

 it before the Society. The various groups have been worked out 

 b}'^ the gentlemen whose names appear at the head of each report, 

 and my thanks are due to each of them for the hearty readiness 

 with which they accepted my invitation to undertake the work 

 of examination. I have pleasure in recording my gratitude to 

 Mr. Schlencker for the enthusiastic manner in which he responded 

 to my request for specimens and for his promise of further help 

 in the same direction. 



AVith few exceptions the specimens reached me in an excellent 

 state of preservation. 



Fife Bay is situated on the south coast of British New Guinea, 

 Lat. 10° 35' S., Long. L50° E. 



i. Lacertilia and Batrachia. — By A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc. 



Lacbrtilia. 



The collection of Lizards from Fife Bay included as many as 

 16 species. 



