BY GERARD KREFFT. 25 



then be procured in large numbers without difficulty. Their eggs, 

 which are deposited in the beginning of January, amount to 15 or 

 20, perhaps even more, as the natives, who consume them in 

 quantities, informed me. 



Like all tortoises, the preseut species is very tenacious of life. 

 On one occasion, a specimen was brought to the camp pierced by 

 a spear : for the sake of experiment, it was put into a case, and 

 kept for a few months, at the end of which, the wound was found 

 completely closed, and the animal as lively as if nothing had 

 happened to it. 



SAURIA. 



2. HYDROSAURCS VARIUS. 

 The Lace Lizard. 



I believe the present striped species, and the large spotted or 

 Gigantic Lace Lizard (3. giganteus) to be identical ; this is one of 

 the most common forms on the plains of the Murray ; so common, 

 in fact, that I have often captured half a dozen of them on my 

 return to the camp ; they were generally found basking in the 

 sun, close to their holes, down which they disappeared with 

 extraordinary swiftness when disturbed. They grow to a large 

 size, as much as 7 or 8 feet long, and feed upon carrion, as well 

 as upon living animals ; on various occasions several pounds of 

 bones, and once a large " opossum " was taken from the stomach 

 of one of these reptiles. 



Their eggs, of which they deposit some 10 or 15, are large, 

 covered with a tough leathery membrane ; the young lizards being 

 more than 10 inches long, at the time of^birth. 



The present species is well distributed over almost every part 

 of Australia. 



3. I*YGOPUS LEPIDOPODUS. 



The Pygopus. 



This, at first appearance, snake -like form, is occasionally met 

 with, but not so frequently as other Lizards : its flat tongue, the 

 two rudimentary limbs near the anus, and its ear-holes, easily 

 distinguish it from a true snake. 



