Biographical Notice of the late Dr. J. E. Gray. 281 



not much larger nor greatly raised, separated by several rows 

 of convex scales ; the occipital distinct, and larger than 

 the surrounding scales, but small, elongate ; a sliglit pit or 

 depression on the region behind it. Two or tlirec series of 

 larger keeled scales on the superciliary space. Ear small, 

 narrow, not much larger than tlie occipital. 



Scales of the back small, keeled ; of the side elongate, oval, 

 convex ; of the belly larger than those of the back, keeled ; 

 of the tail like those of the back and belly ; of the limbs also 

 keeled. The hind limb reaches to tiie eye ; the fore limb the 

 length of the side. The toes are not dilated. Goitre very 

 large, extending nearly to the middle of the abdomen. 



Colour pale brown, variegated with darker, in the form of 

 large rhombic spots, ojien in the middle, along each side of 

 the median line of the back ; dark spots and streaks also on 

 the sides, head, and limbs. 



Specimens in the British Museum from Venezuela and 

 Dominica. 



XXXVII, — Biographical Notice of the late Dr. John 

 Edward Gray. 



It is our painful duty tliis month to record the death on the 

 7th ultimo of Dr. John Edward Gray, F.R.S. &c., who has 

 been for the last seventeen years one of the Editors of this 

 Journal. 



Dr. Gray was born at Walsall in the year 1800 ; so 

 that at the time of his death he had just completed his 75th 

 year. He was the son of Mr. S. F. Gray, the author 

 of the well-known ' Supplement to the Pharmacopreia,' and 

 the grandson of Mr. Samuel Gray, a seedsman in Pall Mall, 

 Avho possessed considerable scientific knowledge, translated the 

 ' Philosophia Botanica' of Linnteus for his friend Mr. Lee, 

 of Iljimmersmith, and assisted him in the composition of his 

 ' Introduction to Botany,' which first made known the labours 

 of the great Swedisli naturalist to English readers. Dr. Gray 

 may thus be regarded as belonging to a family in which natural- 

 history tastes w^ere hereditary. 



According to his own account he was a weakly and ailing 

 child, confined to his chair for eight months in the year, and 

 never eating animal food. At a very early age he says he 

 began the world, to provide for himself and help his family. 

 He was originally intended for the profession of medicine ; but 

 his studies were very early turned specially to natural history j 



