30 VERTEBRATA OF THE LOWER MURRAY, 



again I watched it for some twenty minutes longer, and gave it up 

 at last, the reptiles being apparently under no necessity to breathe. 



20. G-RAMMATOPHORA MDRICATA. 



The Common Grammatophora. 



yhis is a well-known and very common species found in 

 nearly every part of Australia. It is fond of basking in the sun, 

 and may be frequently observed sitting motionless on old 

 stumps upon road side fences, &c. From 5 to 8 eggs are 

 generally produced, and deposited in the sand. 



21. GRAMMATOPHORA ORNATA. 



Yellow spotted Grammatophora. 



This .species is found in large number upon all the open plains, 

 every tuft of grass and every salt bush sheltering several of these 

 gaily coloured creatures ; they vary considerably in their markings, 

 more so even than the previous species G. muricata. The number 

 of eggs produced amounts to about 8. 



22. GRAMMATOPHORA BARBATA. 

 Bearded Grammatophora. 



This formidable looking reptile is better known under the 

 name of " Jew Lizard." It cannot be considered a common form 

 on the Murray, but its distribution extends from the East to the 

 West Coast ; how far it ranges North I have not been able to 

 ascertain, I know however that it occurs at Wide Bay, and is 

 probably found all over the continent. 



The number of eggs produced by this reptile is most likely 

 from 6 to 8, perhaps more. 



OPHIDIA. 



23. MORELIA VARIEGATA. 



The Carpet Snake. 



I am inclined to think that the Carpet Snake and the 

 Diamond Snake are identical, varying in colour in different 

 localities ; Carpet Snakes occur in every part of Australia, the 



