312 LIZARDS. 



with the remains of an opossum {Ciiscus) and a large lizard 1| feet 

 long (probably Conicia zebratd). It was a female, and in the 

 oviduct I came upon an egg, which my natives appropriated, saying 

 that it was very good food ; but they do not usually eat the flesh. 

 I was unable from want of space to ke6p more than the head of the- 

 animal, which I cut off and carried back in my canoe to the shi]>. 

 The skull is now in the British Museum. 



Lizards. The Lacertilians are well represented in these islands. 

 Those at present described are given in the subjoined list. 



Geckonidm 



Gymnodactylus pelagicus 

 Gehyra oceanica 

 Lepidodactylus guppyi. n. sp. 

 Gecko vittatus 

 „ var. bivittatus 



Agmnida; 

 Gonyocephalus godetfroyi. 



Varanidm 

 Varanus indicus 



ScincidcB 

 Mabuia carteretii 

 „ C3'anura 

 nigra 

 Keneuxia smaragdina 

 Lipinia anolis n. sp. 

 Corucia zcbrata. 



The lizards, which most frequently meet the eyes of the visitorgt 

 in the vicinity of the bcaclies, are the two skinks, Mahuia nigra 

 and cyanura. As a rule those species that are common at the coast 

 have a wide range, extending either into Polynesia or Papuasia or 

 into both these regions (yic/e page 307). The species peculiar to these 

 islands came less frequetitly under my observation. Thus, that of 

 Lepidodactylus giippyi^ia founded on a single (female) specimen I found 

 in Faro or Fauro Island in Bougainville Straits. Corucia zebraia 

 never came under my notice alive ; it is said at Ugi to find its home 

 in the foliage of the higher trees. Doubtless if I could have 



