Buller. — Illustrations of Danuinism. 93 



the case of many of our lizards. The beautiful green lizard 

 (Naultinus elcgans) so exactly harmonizes with the manuka.' 

 bushes on which it is usually found that it requires a very 

 practised eye to distinguish it. The protective resemblance is 

 rendered more complete by the leaf-shaped markings of yellow 

 on the back and sides; and it is pretty clear that this par- 

 ticular character has been acquired by natural selection, or 

 descent with modification for protective purposes, inasmuch 

 as the young of this species is of a uniform green colour. 

 These remarks apply with even stronger force to my Naultinus 

 pitlchcrrimus, from Nelson, although, being a somewhat rare 

 species, it is perhaps less noticeable. Here the irregular white 

 markings, intermingled with the yellow and green, coupled 

 with the animal's peculiar habit of curling up its tail in the 

 form of a "Catherine's wheel," render the deception abso- 

 lutely perfect. In this case also the young is of an almost 

 uniform green colour, varied only with leaf-like markings of a 

 darker green on the back. Then, again, as I have previously 

 pointed out, the markings on the back of my Naultinus sylves- 

 tris (discovered by Mr. Annabell at Wanganui) so exactly 

 resemble the minute yellow lichens which cover steins of 

 dead wood in the forests as to render it at all times perfectly 

 safe from detection in such situations. Naultinus sulphureus 

 — whether we regard it as a distinct species or only a pro- 

 nounced local variety — is admirably adapted by its uniform 

 yellow colour to the sulphur deposits of Kotorua, where alone 

 it has been met with. But to come to the common species : 

 where could we find a more beautiful adaptation of colouring 

 to the natural surroundings than in the case of our common 

 tree-lizard (Naultinus pacificus), the shades and markings of 

 which present an almost endless variety ; or in that of the 

 variable Mocoa ornata and Mocoa zealandica, inhabiting our 

 stony places and roadside vegetation ? A case even more re- 

 markable still is that of our wonderful Sphcnodon punctatum 

 or Tuatara lizard. Now this lizard is so abnormal in its cha- 

 racter that it forms by itself a distinct order of reptilia, and 

 exhibits the most bird-like skeleton of all existing reptiles. _ It 

 is perhaps generically the oldest inhabitant of the earth, being 

 closely allied to the Prohatteria of the Permian period, its- 

 nearest relations being the various forms of Bhyncocephala 

 which occur in the Trias. I have not time now to refer to the 

 wonderful peculiarities of this living representative of a re- 

 motely ancient race ; but I may mention that the Tuatara has 

 been found to possess, concealed under the tough skin of the 

 forehead, the vestiges of a third but now obsolete eye, the 

 functional parts being present, even to the optic nerve !_ It 

 has become extinct on the mainland ; and it is a very curious 

 fact that, through long isolation, it has become differentiated 



