640 ■ LIZARDS OP NORTH QUEENSLAND, 



outcrop of grass and flowers. The long spell of dry weather seems 

 to be unfavourable to the reptilian fauna, and as a result snakes 

 are rare, and lizards not very plentiful. Though a careful search 

 reveals the presence of a considerable variety of forms, only four 

 or five. lizards are at all common. In the following list are noted 

 all the lizards that have been found, and though it is not improb- 

 able that a few other forms exist in the district which have not 

 been observed the list may be held to give a fairly good idea of 

 the lacertilian fauna : — 



Nephrurus asper, Gthr. — This remarkable little lizard is no 

 doubt rare, as I was not fortunate in personally coming across a 

 specimen, though two were brought me, one of which was alive. 

 In its movements it resembles much more the chameleons than 

 any of the normal geckoes. The live specimen made no attempt 

 to bite, and would allow itself to be lifted without making any 

 great resistance. In the stomach of the other specimen I found 

 the remains of a cricket, and some other much digested remains, 

 probably those of caterpillars. 



Gymnodactylus pelagicus, Gir. —In my collection I find only 

 one specimen of this gecko, so that it must be regai'ded as rare. 



Heteronota binoei, Gi-ay. Native name Mbootoo. — This little 

 gecko is one of the commonest lizards of the district. It is chiefly 

 found on the ground under stones, pieces of bark and fallen 

 timber. 



Diplodactvlus pulcher, Stdchr. — One of the rarer jjeckoes 

 of the district. 



o^ 



QEdura TRYONi, DeVis. { = (E. oceUata, Blgr.). — This beautiful 

 gecko is by no means rare, and the variations in colour are 

 remarkable. The variety figured in the British Museum Catalogue 

 as (E. oceUata is the form least commonly met with, most speci- 

 mens being more or less distinctly banded, and, though there is 

 no constancy in the markings of the body, there is generally a 

 more or less marked dark band round the occipital region. In 

 spirit specimens the bright colouring of this gecko is to a large 

 extent lost. It is chiefly found among the limestone rocks. 



