CorENso.—On a supposed new Species of Naultinus. 259 
do keep it for a long time, often remaining motionless for hours, occasion- 
ally even days, in one position. I have often thought, that if a correct 
drawing were taken of the lizards when in such queer postures, the ery of 
“How unnatural!” would surely be raised on its being looked at. Some- 
times they will take a peculiar position on the edge of their water-trough 
(glass salt-cellar), there, with their tails within it, and merely holding on by - 
their hind-feet on the narrow outer edge, they will project themselves for- 
ward in the air, and so either keep themselves quietly extended, or paw 
about in the air with their fore-legs, for some time. The large one will 
stand up against the glass dome (on the inside) with its fore-feet spread 
out on the glass, and its long tail curled in under it in a perfect ring, and 
its two hind-feet clasping its tail on the opposite side of the ring! Some- 
times the young ones will raise themselves against the glass (within) and 
there stretch out their four paws on the glass, and so support themselves 
on their tail, which is for this purpose bent a little below its base, having 
the lower portion extended on the floor (much as a kangaroo is sometimes 
drawn) and in this posture they will remain 2-8 hours without moving. I 
have seen one of the young ones lay itself along the edge of its water-trough 
having its two feet of one side just within it, with the two feet of the other 
side low down on the outside, and its tail passed around the end and further 
side above the floor, and so remain immovable for half-a-day! I have also 
noticed one of them stretched among the koromiko twigs, having one of its 
little fore-legs twisted up backwards over its back! apparently as if dislo- 
cated or broken, and so remain for séveral hours. I have also observed 
the young ones standing for a considerable time with the 5th (or outer) toe 
of each hind-foot turned in completely underneath the sole from the first 
phalanx, so that no vestige of that toe could possibly be seen. The joints 
of their legs and toes seem to be strangely formed, as if reversible at their 
willin action. Sometimes one of the young ones will stretch itself on the 
head of the adult male, looking towards its tail, just bringing its four paws 
and sharp-pointed claws into the head and eyes of the large lizard by which 
it holds on! at other times the young one will quite reverse that position, 
looking ahead of the large lizard, but with its feet and claws as before (only 
reversed) and so remain for hours; the big one under him not moving. It 
is pleasing to notice them when a fresh leafy branch of koromiko is put 
into their cage, then the two small ones will climb up and extend them- 
selves along the branchlets, while the adult lizard will curl himself up 
among the leaves below, and so they will quietly remain. On one occasion in 
the spring, when the whole seven were alive together, I noticed, one evening, 
one of the adult lizards on its side in the salt-cellar with its legs and feet 
as if twisted unnaturally over the edge; I first observed it about 5 p.m., at 
