72 MR. C. A. WfLSON ON A SlXQUfATl LTZAIH). 



it is apparently unable to bite ; and I have no reason to think that, 

 if it did so, any unpleasant consequences would follow. 



The animals changed colour frequently while I had them, from 

 their original bright hues to a dull slate- or soot-colour, under 

 which their markings were but dimly seen. This I often observed. 

 About the time (or soon after) I received the three together, men- 

 tioned in my last paper, one, I remarked, was darker than tlie 

 others, more clouded in its colours, and of quite a dingy appearance. 



The change of hue never occurred suddenly, or while the crea- 

 ture was being looked at ; but after a long interval (say, after a 

 day or a night had passed) I observed the alteration. I at first 

 thouglit this change might arise from confinement or weakness ; 

 but as, when looked at again after an interval, all three individuals 

 were as bright as ever, this could not be the cause. In this and 

 their slow and languid movements these Lizards, perhaps, most 

 resemble the Chameleon ; and there are, I fancy, other points of 

 similarity between them. The change of colour may be a sexual 

 one ; but they took no more notice, to all appearance, of objects 

 around them, or of each other, while these changes were occur-, 

 ring, than before. 



When immersed in spirits of wine, whether living or just dead, 

 all assumed their brightest hues: though, just previously to this, 

 none were of the most dingy colour (that is, to its fullest extent), 

 yet at this time, or just before immersion, some were duller 

 than others, but all became, when put into the spirits, of their 

 liveliest tints. A t this treatment the strongest liardly moved at 

 all, as if the liquid directly took effect. 



They are diurnal reptiles only — that is, not abroad at night. 

 Tliere are some exceptions to this ; one may be when their prey 

 (if ants) on moonlight nights is on the move. The eye is not 

 Htiited for nocturnal excursions, being small and deeply set. 

 • As to sex, subsequent observation has given a hint or two. In 

 April last I received three more of the Molochs in a box, and per 

 post as before, from Port Augusta. They were not alive, having 

 died from an accident the day before "posting; " but decomposi- 

 tion had fortunately only just commenced. They had been left 

 out in the sun in their box or cage for a whole day, and forgotten 

 till evening. The solar heat must have caused their dcatli, mucii 

 to the regret of their captors. Of these three Lizards, two were 

 without' any spines on the singular ball-like protuberance on the 

 neck ; the oilier liad a pair of spiiies there as usual. The animals 



