Kyox.—On Naultinus pacificus, Gray. 307 
Art. XXXVI.—Observations on Naultinus pacificus, Gray. 
By F. J. Knox, L.R.C.S.E. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 29th January, 1872.] 
On the 20th October, 1869, a neighbour brought me a lizard incarcerated in a 
gin-bottle. The prisoner was extremely restless, and my friend stated as a 
caution that when captured it was very lively, offering a spirited resistance. 
After a week’s imprisonment, on 28th October, I determined to improve the 
condition of the prisoner, having previously prepared a more suitable habita- 
tion for him, but having to break the bottle, in the struggle the tail was 
detached from the body precisely at the apparent junction with the sacrum, at 
what is generally called the “setting on of the tail.” On being secured in his 
new residence (still, of course, a prisoner) he did not appear conscious of the 
loss of his caudal extremity, but surveyed every corner for the means of 
escape. As bearing on the feeding habits of this lizard I may state that 
small portions of flesh were put beside him, and an active blue-bottle fly 
having fancied the raw meat was suddenly struck by the lizard with the 
rapidity of lightning, and with a force which crippled it. During his 
efforts to regain his liberty he frequently, I could observe, licked with his 
tongue the entire surface of the face, including the eyes. Three days after 
the accident the lizard appeared dull, but when disturbed still only anxious 
to obtain his freedom. The stump where the tail was detached was swollen 
and evidently painful. He refused all food, but was still active till the 
seventh day, and on the eighth died. 
On dissection he proved to be a male, the generative organs not active. 
SKELETON. 
Vertebraee—body _... ies one wes 26 
candal o me its n. 29 
Total ee ss 63 
Ribs 26 
Weight, recent, 156 grs. ; weight of skeleton, 18 grs. ; and of soft parts 
gg 
Tt has been stated that when the tail of a lizard has been amputated the 
detached portion will be reproduced in its entirety. Scientific men will 
naturally require minute details of such an experiment, with reliable authority. 
We have shown in the preceding article that the tail of the Naultinus pacificus 
was separated (not amputated), and it will be seen that the place where the 
separation took place presented no appearance of laceration or cutting, with 
the exception of the spinal cord. The greatest care and attention was 
bestowed upon the lizard, but unmistakeable symptoms of the injury ex- 
hibited themselves, and death rapidly followed. 
