Zoology.-^ NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Reptiles. 



the palatine bands of teeth are more divided in the middle, and the 

 notch of the tongue is slightly larger. The diapophyses of the last 

 sacral vertebrte are only slightly dilated. 



Some of the large specimens agree more exactly in markings 

 with Gray's figure than ours, which latter shows an extreme of 

 darker and closer marking and no distinct dorsal stripe ; there 

 are, however, all vaiieties between these extremes. 



The oddest characteristic of this species is its habitually burying 

 itself seven or eight inches under the surface of the light sandy 

 soil of Brighton and other similar localities on the south coast, 

 where it may be dug out any day in considerable numbers ; only 

 coming out by night to feed on the large nocturnal spiders which 

 abound on the surface at the same time. These localities, in which 

 the Sand-Frog most abounds, are entirely waterless, and the habit 

 of burying itself in the sandy ground by day keeps it from the 

 scorching rays of the sun, while the habit of coming to the surface 

 and running over the ground by night introduces it to the snakes, 

 which in such arid plains one would expect to have little chance 

 of meeting batrachian food, of which it is evident they are very 

 fond, from the abundance of the remains found on opening them. 

 A similar habit of covering itself by day in light soil, it will be 

 remembered, ]\Ir. Darwin observed in some of the South American 

 FroffS : althouo-h mv first statement of its beino; observable in 

 Australia in this species has been contradicted by a WTiter in 

 Sydney, who does not seem to have met the creature, which may 

 be turned up with the spade, however, in any of the gardens of the 

 locality I mentioned. It has not been figured of the natural colors 

 before, 



ExpLANAiioN OF Figures. 



Plate 42. — Fig. 2, profile view, natural size. Fig. 2a, upper view, natural size. Fig. 2i, 

 under view, natural size. Fig. 2c, mouth, twice the natural size, showing the ma.^llary and 

 palatine bands of teeth, the openings of the nostrils and Eustachian tubes, and the tongue, the 

 notch of which Is a little exaggerated by being drawn forward. Fig. 2rf, profile, to show thick 

 muzzle with little projection of upper jaw, and central position of nostrils. Fig. 2e, underside 

 of anterior foot, once and a half larger than nature, to show the tubercles. Fig. If, underside 

 of hind foot, once and a half larger than natural size. 



Frederick McCoy. 



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