514 Zoological Society. 



to the condyles is 3-^ inches. Both the tibia and fibula are large 

 and of great comparative length : in the common Otter, they do not 

 exceed the femur ; but here they exceed it by more than an inch, 

 the measurement being 4-V inches. 



It is in the hind paws or paddles, Mr. Martin remarks, that the 

 greatest diiFerence exists between the 0/^er and the Enhydra. They 

 are here admirably constructed as organs of aquatic progression. 

 Their length from the os calcis to the last phalanx of the outer toe 

 is 7^ inches; and as the toes are long and connected by intervening 

 webs they form broad efficient oars. The toes graduate regularly 

 from the inner toe, which is the shortest, to the outer or fifth toe, 

 which is the longest. The metatarsal bone of the inner toe measures 

 14- inch, the toe analogous to the thumb and composed of only two 

 phalanges measures the same — the other toes have tliree phalanges 

 as usual ; the metatarsal bone of the fifth toe measures 24r inches ; 

 the toe itself 3 inches. The breadth of the foot, measured obliquely 

 across from the end of the metatarsal bone of the first toe to that 

 of the fifth is "2 inches. 



Tlie nails of the fore paws are small and sharp ; those of the pad- 

 dles are blunt, but curved. 



The OS penis is a stout bone 3-1 inches in length. 



Mr. Martin concluded by remarking that as the hinder extremi- 

 ties are placed far backwards, and when stretched out in the act of 

 swimming exceed the tail, this organ will appear placed between 

 them, almost as much as it is in the Seals ; between which animals 

 and the Otters the Enhydra forms, in his estimation, a palpable link 

 of union, approximating, in some portion of its osseous structure, 

 even more to tlie former than to the latter. 



Mr. Martin added that it was his intention, with the view of ren- 

 dering his communication more complete, to review the osteology 

 of the Enhydra in detailed comparison with that of the common 

 Otter and of the Seal. 



A drawing was exhibited of a Saurian Reptile of the family Scin- 

 cidce and of the genus Tiliqua, Gray, which forms part of the Museum 

 of the Army Medical Department at Chatham, and which is regard- 

 ed by Mr. Burton, Statf- Surgeon, in charge of the Museum, as 

 hitherto undescribed. 



It was accompanied by the subjoined character and description by 

 Mr. Burton. 



TiLiauA Fernandi. Til. atiribus prof undis, latis, margine antico 

 simplici ; squamis dorsalibus valde tri-carinatis : svpra pallide 

 brunnea strigis saturatioribus ornata, infrii, albescens ; lateribus 

 brunneo variis alboque maculatis ; guld brunneo lineatd. 



Long, corporis capitisque 6 unc. ; capitis collique, 2^ ; caudce, ? 



Hab. apud Fernando Po. 



" There are eight rows of hexagonal imbricated scales on the back 

 and tail, and two additional rows between the fore and hind legs ; 

 the lateral scales are irregular in form and size. Submental scales 

 large, in three transverse rows ; the first containing a single scale, the 

 second a pair, the third a pair with an intermediate rudimentary 



