1874.] DR. GtfNTHER ON THE FAUNA OF SAVAGE ISLAND. 297 



4. Mabouia lawesii, sp. n. (Plate XLV. fig. A.) 



Supranasals far apart ; postfrontals separated by the vertical, which 

 is produced forward into a point touching the prefrontal. Only one 

 anterior occipital. Ear-opening without lobules. Scales very small, 

 the body being surrounded by 55 series of scales, and there being 

 78 scales in a longitudinal series between the axil of the fore leg and 

 the vent. Nine prseanal scales subequal in size. The fore leg, when 

 laid forward, reaches to the nostril. The upper parts are brown, 

 gradually passing into the greenish white of the lower parts. Small 

 dark-brown specks are scattered over the back and sides ; but most 

 characteristic are yellowish white spots (each occupying one scale 

 only) with which the back of the body and tail are ornamented. On 

 the trunk they are irregularly distributed, but on the tail they are 

 arranged in more or less regular transverse series. 



in. lin. 



Distance of the snout from the ear 9 



,, „ fore leg 1 3 



„ ;, vent 3 6 



Length of tail 6 



Total length 9 6 



Length of fore leg 1 2 



I have named this fine species after the Rev. Mr. Lawes, who has 

 been engaged in improving the condition of the inhabitants of this 

 island since the year 1861. 



5. Platurus schistorhynchus, sp. n. (Plate XLV. fig. B.) 

 The rostral shield is transversely divided into two, the upper 

 portion forming an azygos shield' between the nasals. Another 

 azygos shield between the posterior frontals. Scales of the front 

 part of the trunk in twenty-one longitudinal series. Ventral shields 

 from 190 to 199. Snout and side of the head black, separated from 

 the black crown of the head by a horseshoe-shaped yellow band which 

 sometimes joins the yellow ring round the neck. Body surrounded 

 by about twenty-two black rings, broader than the interspaces. 



I have examined five examples of this species, all agreeing in the 

 peculiarity of the divided rostral combined with the black snout. 

 This snake appears to be common on the shores of Savage Island, as 

 Mr. Lawes states that it is constantly caught and handled by 

 children and that it never attempts to bite. The discovery of this 

 snake is another instance of the local occurrence of many species of 

 sea-snakes. The figure is of the natural size. 



A small Scorpion preserved in the same bottles with the Reptiles 

 is, as Mr. Butler informs me, Ischnurus complanatus (Koch). 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1874, No. XX. 20 



