RAT ISLAND. 146 



through the still pellucid water was very striking. 

 The dark blue of the deep portions of the lagoon 

 contrasted beautifully with the various patches of 

 light colours interspersed. 



We found to our surprise that the group into 

 which we had penetrated was entirely distinct from 

 that under which we had first anchored to the south- 

 ward, so that we had already discovered the Abrolhos 

 to form three separate groups. The centre island 

 we named Rat Island, from the quantity of that 

 vermin with which it was infested. We also saw 

 here a few seals, and numbers of a very pretty lizard 

 (figured in the appendix) with its tail covered with 

 spines. Several of these were brought away alive. 

 I had two myself for nine months on board, and 

 afterwards presented them to Lady Gipps. Of those 

 taken by Lieut. Emery, he was so fortunate as to 

 bring one alive to England, in 1841. It is still in his 

 possession, and thrives remarkably well. In one of 

 his last letters he writes to me as follows on the 

 subject : " The Abrolhos lizard is very docile, and 

 knows Mrs. Emery quite well, and will eat and 

 drink out of her hand ; but is timid with strangers. 

 Its habits are rather torpid, but it becomes active 

 when in the sun or before the fire. It eats so very 

 little that a piece of sponge cake about the size of a 

 small bean will satisfy it for three or four weeks. It 

 changes its skin twice a year.' 



The formation of Rat Island resembles that 

 already noticed in Pelsart Group ; there were the 

 same low overhanging cream-coloured limestone 



VOL. II. L 



