Fossils Found in the South Esk. 57 



mottled with brown. A deep zigzag white line, commencing 

 at the back of the head, runs down each side, enclosing between 

 them the soft amber brown of the back, on which occur, about 

 half an inch apart, sharply- defined oblong white patches, of 

 difierent sizes, connected by two narrow lines of the same 

 colour, in the form of a St Andrew's cross. The whole orna- 

 mentation of this specimen is exceedingly pretty. This is one 

 of the most deadly of poisonous snakes. 



A fine example of Dendraspis angusticeps was next referred 

 to ; and along with it a rodent, about the size of a .small rat 

 {Rhinomus soricoidcs, Proc. Eoy. Phys. Soc, 1859, p. 159), 

 which had been taken from its stomach in a perfect state of 

 preservation. 



Dr Duns then called the attention of the Society to three 

 specimens of a beautiful species of lizard, not identified, from 

 the same locality, with the view of pointing out the abnormal 

 character of the tail in two of the specimens, which were con- 

 trasted with the other, in which the tail is in its normal con- 

 dition — rounded ; white spotted ; indistinctly marked by Kght 

 brown rings, and 6^ inches in length; the whole length of the 

 lizard being 13^ inches. Of the other two, one has had the tail 

 twice broken. The wounds have afterwards healed, and growth 

 to the extent of 3^ inches has taken place. In the second 

 abnormal specimen, the tail has been broken off close to the 

 body, and two sprouts have been put out, which have grown 

 about 2 inches. The one is placed above the other, but dis- 

 tinct from it, forming a bifurcated tail. The forks are rounded, 

 thickest at the base, and gradually tapering to a point, and 

 presenting a perfectly symmetrical appearance. 



III. — Note relative to the Bed of the South Esk Biver at 

 Newhattle, in conneetion with Fossils found there. By 

 David Grieve, Esq., F.E.S.E. 



The South Esk river, the second of the same name in Scot- 

 land (the first being in Forfarshire), rises in the county of 

 Peebles, and runs a sinuous course till it joins its sister river, 

 the North Esk, in the grounds of Dalkeith Palace, whence 

 they unitedly flow to the sea at Musselburgh. After entering 



