FAUNA OF THE MONTE BELLO ISLANDS. 641 
that on Hermite this species and //. binoei bear a strong super- 
ficial resemblance to one another, both in size and coloration. 
The resemblance in size is perhaps the most remarkable, as the 
following figures will show :— 
H, binoet: length, B.M. Catalogue, 80 mm.; Hermite speci- 
mens, 103 mm. 
G. variegata: length, B.M. Catalogue, 147 mm.; Hermite 
specimens, 87 min. 
The discrepancy between the Monte Bello forms is largely 
accounted for by the long slender tail of H. binoei, the average 
measurements of the largest specimens from snout to base of 
tail being in the two cases, 7. binoei 58°4 mm. and G@. varregata 
54mm. Furthermore, it may be observed that the white spots on 
G. variegata correspond to some extent In position and appearance 
to the white tetrahedral scales on the back of H/. binoei. The 
fact is interesting, as the two species are found together on the 
same ground, though the one obtains its food on the sand and 
the other on the bushes above. 
3. PHYSIGNATHUS GILBERTI. (Pl. I. figs. 4-7.) 
B. M. Cat. vol. i. p. 396. 
Lophognathus gilberti Gray, Cat. p. 12. 
This large and handsome lizard was seen very abundantly on 
Hermite Island, and occurs on nearly all the other islands. On 
warm and sunny days it could be seen almost anywhere, running 
and jumping with great agility over the rocks and trees, feeding 
mostly upon a large and abundant grasshopper, Cyrtacanthacris 
guttulosa. 
The species is distributed over Northern and Western Aus- 
tralia. Montebello examples are greatly below the average size. 
4, ABLEPHARUS MUELLERI, B. M. Cat. vol. iii. p. 356. 
Phaneropis muellert Fisch., Arch. f. Nat. 1881, p. 236, pl. xii. 
This lizard is probably common, for the regular waved track, 
formed by its burrowing through the surface sand, was 
frequently seen in the early morning, an indication that the 
species 1s nocturnal in its movements. Owing to the great 
rapidity with which it burrows, it is hard to capture, and our 
examples were obtained by turning over loose rocks in large 
numbers. It had previously been recorded only from Western 
Australia. 
5. Lycosoma srpEs, B. M. Cat. vol. ii. p. 337. 
Rhodona bipes Fisch., Arch. f. Nat. 1882, p. 292, pl. xvii. 
‘figs. 10-15. 
Apparently resembles in habit the preceding species, and 
obtained from the same locality in the same manner. It is 
apparently confined to N.W. Australia. 
