240 Transactions. — Zoology. 



that this animal, which lives in holes and only comes out during warm 

 weather, should have the dorsal crest that is so characteristic of tree lizards. 



I omit all reference to Norhea? isolata, supposed to come from White 

 Island, in the Bay of Plenty, because its true locality is not sufficiently well 

 established ; if, however, another specimen should be obtained, it would be 

 most important evidence in the present discussion. 



But one species of lizard is found on the Chatham Islands, which is very 

 variable, but which I consider to belong to the species Mocoa zealandica ; it is, 

 however, larger, and shows some slight differences in the shape of its cephalic 

 shields. 



A ringed sea-snake, probably Platurus scutatus, of Australia and Poly- 

 nesia, is sometimes washed alive on to our coasts as far south as the mouth of 

 the river Waikato, but it is not yet ascertained whether it is an inhabitant of 

 our seas. A peculiar variety of Pelamis hicolor, which as yet has not been 

 found in any other locality, has also been taken on our shores. 



Amphibians. 



The amphibious animals are worse represented even than the reptiles ; one 

 species of frog {Liopehna hochstetteri) being the only member of the class. 

 This frog has now been found in three distinct localities, all, however, in the 

 province of Auckland ; these are the Cape Colville ranges from Coromandel 

 to Puriri, the Huia on the north side of the Manukau harbour, and in the 

 mountains behind Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty. It belongs to a genus not 

 found elsewhere, but its nearest ally is Telmatohius peruvianus from Peru, 

 and it should be remembered that the frogs of Australia are also allied to 

 South American forms. It is evident that the absence of other Batrachians 

 cannot be accounted for by the unsuitability of climate or want of food, for the 

 comm.on green frog of Australia {Litoria aurea), which has been introduced, 

 has spread with great rapidity around both Auckland and Christchurch. 



The evidence of the reptiles is, therefore, that New Zealand has had land 

 communication with some of the Pacific Islands at a later date than with 

 Australia, for in the first case there is no specific difference between forms 

 found in both places, while in the latter the species are now quite distinct. 

 Our frog proves a connection with South America at a period so remote 

 that changes have since taken place of generic value. 



Fish. 



Up to the present time about 134 species of marine fish are known to 

 inhabit the shores of ."New Zealand. Of these 51, or 37 per cent., are found 

 nowhere else. Thirty-eight extend to the Australian and Tasmanian seas, but 

 no further, six range to the Pacific Islands, five inhabit South America, four 

 South Africa, and one Kerguelen Land and the Auckland Islands. There 



