416 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi. 



— Morelia, Ziasis, Diemenia, and Acanthophis ; while four others 

 are more especially Papuan, — Dibamus (Typhlopidse), Brachy- 

 orros — a sub-genus of the wide-spread Rhabdosoma (Calamariidee), 

 found also in Timor ; Nardoa and Enygrus (Pythonidse), ranging 

 from the Moluccas to the Fiji Islands. The rest are either com- 

 mon to the Oriental and Australian regions or of wide range. 



Of Lizards also, 24 genera are recorded, belonging to 5 families. 

 Three only are peculiarly Oriental, — Eumeces, Tiaris, and Nycte- 

 ridium ; but another, Gonyocephalus, is Malayan, ranging from 

 Java and Borneo to the Pelew Islands. Three are Australian, — 

 Cyclodus, Heteropus, and Gehyra ; while six are especially Papuan, 

 — Kcncuxia (extending to the Philippines), Elania, Carlia (to 

 North Australia), Lipinia (to the Philip pine Islands), and Tri- 

 bolonotus, — all belonging to the Scincidse ; and Arua belonging 

 to the Agamidae. We must add Cryptoblepharus, which is con- 

 fined to the Australian region, except a species in Mauritius. 

 The other genera have a wider distribution. 



The preponderant Oriental element in the snakes as compared 

 with the lizards, is suggestive of the dispersal of the former being 

 dependent on floating trees, or even on native canoes, which for 

 an unknown period have traversed these seas, and in which 

 various species of snakes often secrete themselves. This seems 

 the more probable, as snakes are usually more restricted in their 

 range than lizards, and exhibit less numerous examples of wide- 

 spread genera and species. The other orders of reptiles present 

 no features of interest. 



Of Amphibia only 8 genera are known, belonging to 6 families. 

 Rana, Hylarana, and Hyla are wide-spread genera, the former 

 being, however, absent from Australia. Hyperolius, Pelodryas, 

 Litoria, and Asterophrys are Australian; while Platymantis is 

 Polynesian, with a species in the Philippine Islands. Hence 

 it appears that the amphibia, so far as yet known, exhibit 

 no Oriental affinity; and this is a very suggestive fact. We 

 have seen (p. 29) that salt water is almost a complete barrier 

 to the dispersal of these creatures ; so that the wholly Aus- 

 tralian character of the Papuan batrachia is what we might 

 expect, if, as here advocated, no actual land connection between 



