410 MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE REPTILES, [June 9, 
the colder seas of the China coast. During the years I spent at 
Amoy I never heard of a Turtle being captured but once; this was 
in October 1859. It was a large old specimen of this species, of a 
yellowish madder-colour. I wanted to buy it to preserve ; but nothing 
would induce the fishermen to sell it for this purpose. They said a 
Turtle never appears on the China coast except when some great 
calamity is imminent, and to avert this good men must deliver it - 
from its captors and set it free. A Chinese firm in the town volun- 
teered to do the good act. They purchased the Turtle, had Chinese 
characters cut on its back, signifying “set free for ever,’ which 
were filled in with vermilion, and, decking it with ribbons, took it in 
a boat in great state, with drums beating, to the outer limits of the 
harbour, where it was dropped into the sea. They said that if 
caught again the inscription on its back would protect it from meet- 
ing with further rough treatment. 
The Turtle is with the Chinese an emblem of longevity. 
3. CRocopbILus, sp. ? 
In February 1869 some Chinese were exhibiting in the native city 
of Shanghai what they called a Dragon, which they declared had 
been dug out of a hole in the province of Shense. It was a young 
Crocodile about 4 feet long, which they kept in tepid water. They 
made so much money by showing it that they refused to sell it. I 
cannot, of course, guess its species; but I nevertheless think the 
fact worth recording, as evidence that a species of this group does 
occur in China. 
4. TACHYDROMUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Giinth. J. ec. p. 70. 
One specimen caught on the top of the city wall of Nanking. The 
Museum has specimens from Ningpo. It isa ground-Lizard, hiding 
under stones. 
5. Eremias araus (Peters). 
Very common in the cultivated fields about Peking. The Museum 
has specimens procured by me in 1860; but mention of these was 
omitted when the Society was made acquainted with the specimens 
collected by me during the North-China campaign (see P. Z, 8. 
1861, p. 391). 
6. Mansoura CHINENSIS (Gray), Giinth. /.¢. p. 83. 
Specimens from the Pescadores. Very common about the millet- 
fields of the largest Pescadore Island. A small race, and much spotted™ 
with black. 
7. Eumeces mopestvs, Giinth. J. c. p. 87. 
Found on the rocky bank of the Yangtsze river in a gorge in 
eastern Szechuen, 1300 miles from the sea. Before known only 
from Ningpo. 
