18G3.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON A NEW LIZARD. 237 



Mr. Carter obseryes, " The two Lizards of a lavender or light lead- 

 colour, with nearly invisible brown spots or lines, were caught in the 

 island of Massera, which is about forty miles long, barren, and situated 

 close to the shore of the south-east coast of Arabia, towards its 

 easternmost end. 



" The tail of one has dropped off. To the best of my recollection, 

 it was not bushy or crested, like that of the one which remains on ; 

 and that at the time made me think the latter was the male, and the 

 other the female of the species. 



" It is just possible they may be new ; for Massera is little known, 

 and I think we (the surveying people) were the first white men who 

 were ever on the island." 



Most probably the tail of the second specimen, which was lost, 

 might have been reproduced, and thus without the lateral fringe. 



" The channel on the inner side of the island swarms with the 

 Edible and Hawk'sbill or Turtle-shell Turtle ; and the island is be- 

 strewn with the bones of the former : for the inhabitants are all mere 

 brutes (Anthropophagi and Ichthyophagi)." 



This genus of GeckoidcB has many characters in common with 

 the AgamidcB. Like Eublepharis it has a large circular pupil to the 

 eye, and in this respect they form together an aberrant group of the 

 family. In both these genera the pupil is large as well as circular. 

 It is also peculiar, among the Geckoids, for the scales being all of a 

 uniform size and character ; but this is found in a few other species, 

 such as Boltanea suhlcems, where the minute sublenticular scales 

 are often almost entirely wanting. 



" The Prickly-tailed Lizard, of a light-brown colour, was caught 

 on or close to the town of Makulla, a port on the south-east coast of 

 Arabia. 



" I regard it as the young of a species just like it, which grows 

 to a foot or more in length, on the coast mentioned." 



This is very nearly allied to JJromastix spinipes ; but unfortunately 

 the specimen is too young and not in a sufficiently good condition 

 to determine if it is absolutely the same. 



June 23, 1863. 



Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



Prof. Huxley, F.R.S., read a communication* on the form of the 

 placenta in the Cape Hyrax (^Hyrax capensis). 



Prof. Rolleston read a communication ■'' on the form of the placenta 

 in the Tenrec {Centetes ecaudatus). 



Mr. R. Swinhoe exhibited a skin of a Royal Tiger {Felis tigris) 

 killed in the vicinity of Amoy, China. 



* These papers will be printed in the Society's ' Transactions.' 



