88 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE HERPETOLOGY [Feb. 7, 



Mr. A. Tlioinson exhibited a living specimen of the larval form 

 of a Stick-iuseet from Southern France (Empusa egena), from the 

 Society's Insect-house, and spoke of its manner of catching flies. 



The fullowing papers were read : — 



1. Third Contribution to the Herpetology of the Solomon 

 Islands ^ By G. A. Boulenger, F.Z.S. 



[Received January 11, 1888.] 



Mr. C. M. Woodford has brought home a large series of Reptiles 

 and Batrachians obtained during his visit to the Islands of Guadal- 

 canar and New Georgia. The fact that, in spite of the extent of the 

 collection (over 200 specimens) and the special attention paid by the 

 collector to this group of animals, only four species are tliereliy added 

 to the herpetological list of the Solomons, shows that our know- 

 ledge of this part of the fauna approaches completion. Dendrophis 

 calliffaster, Gthr., and Cornufer corrugatus, A. Dum., are recorded 

 for the first time from the Solomon Islands, and two new snakes are 

 described further on. 



The following is a list of the species obtained : — 



Guadalranar: — Crocodilus porosus, Schn., Gehyra oceanica, Less., 

 Varanus indicus, Daud., Lygosoma cyanurum. Less., L. nigrum, H. 

 & J., L. albo/asciatum, Gthr., Corucia zehratu"^. Gray, Emjgrus 

 r.arinatus, Schn., Deyidrophis calligaster, Gthr., Dipsas irregularis, 

 Merr., Hoplocephalus nielanurus, sp. n., Rana guppyi, Blgr. ', 

 R. krefftii, Blgr., Cornufer solomonis, Blgr., C. corrugatus, A. Dum., 

 Ceratobatrachus guentheri, Blgr., and Hyla macrops, Blgr. 



Rubiana, New Georgia : — Lygosoma cyanurum. Less., L. cyano- 

 gaster. Less., L. nigrum, H. & J., Enygrus carinatus, Schn., 

 Dendrophis solomonis, Gthr. (a variety with uniform green upper 

 parts), Dipsas irregularis, Merr., Hoplocephalus woodfordi, sp. n., 

 Rana guppyi, Blgr., Cornufer corrugatus, A. Dum., and Cerato- 

 batrachus guentheri, Blgr. 



Hoplocephalus melanurus, sp. n. 



Body rather stout, H-'ad depressed, slightly widened posteriorly; 

 snout short, without canthus rostralis ; eye moderate ; no superci- 

 liary ridge ; rostral considerably broader than deep, its upper border 

 forming a verv open angle ; internasals half as long as the prse- 

 fronlals, which are a Utile shorter thau the frontal ; latter ahield 



1 P. Z. S. 1887, p. 333. 



^ Mr. Woodford confirms from actual observation the statement made by 

 me that the tail is a prehensile organ. This Lizard was seen to suspend 

 itself to branches of trees by means of the tail. 



' The largest female specimen measures 21 centim., from snout to vent, the 

 largest male only 10 ; the male is characterized by the presence of a small 

 external vocal sac on each side of the throat. These frogs feed chiefly upon 

 large crustaceans {Senarma lufordii and Cardiosoma caniij'ex, fide Pocock). 



