■642 LIZARDS OF NORTH QUEENSLAND 



of ornamentation can be found. The colouring and markius of 

 specimens had apparently very little, if any, connection with the 

 surroundings, light and dark specimens living together in the one 

 situation, and apparently getting on equally well in the " struggle 

 for existence." 



Chlamydosaurus kingii, Gray. — The great frilled lizard is not 

 ^common, but is occasionally met with. I kept a full-grown speci- 

 men for some days. It became quite tame, and would allow me to 

 carry it about in my arms. Its long legs give it a different 

 appearance from almost all other lizards. One day while riding 

 in the bush I observed a fine specimen run up a tall slender tree; 

 dismounting I followed thinking I could not but catch it. When 

 near the top, and I within a couple of feet of it, seeing no escape 

 down the tree, it took a flying leap of 30 feet or so, and long 

 before I was down, was up a second tree, where I left it undis- 

 turbed. 



Tiliqua scincoides, Whitf. Native name Ngtira. — The large 

 seal}' or blue-tongued lizard is not uncommon. I kept a large 

 specimen alive for some months, feeding it on little scraps of meat. 

 Considering the size of the lizard it is remarkably powerful, and 

 when sitting at hay is by no means to be played with. If a stick 

 be presented to it, it snaps at it, and then rapidly rolls itself 

 round and round on its side, and unless the stick be firmly held, 

 the lizard will probably twist it out of the hand. The one I had 

 alive was kept secured by a string round its neck, and with a box 

 for a kennel. When out feeding endeavours were made at 

 difiierent times to induce dogs to attack it, but it would hold its 

 own like a cat, facing round to whichever side the attack was 

 threatened from, and after keeping its assailant at bay for some 

 time, on the first favourable opportunity would rapidly run into 

 its box for safety. 



Lygosoma lesueurii, D. <t B, — In North Queensland this 

 common skink differs somewhat in colour from the specimens 

 collected in New South Wales. In the northern specimens the 

 general shade is a light brown; in the southern specimens a dark 



