BuLLER. — On a new Species of Luard of the Genus Naultinus. 419 



Aet. LXII. — Description of a new Species of Lizard of the Genus Naultinus. 

 By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D., F.E.S. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 10th January, 1880.*] 

 In continuation of previous notes on the Lizards of New Zealand, I have 

 now to brmg before the Society a very beautiful form of Tree-lizard, for 

 which I propose the name of Naultinus sylvestris. 



The example on which my new species is founded was obtained in the 

 wooded country of the Wanganui District by Mr. Joseph Annabell, of the 

 New Zealand Survey Department, who kindly presented it to me. 



It was alive in my possession for several weeks, and before it died, for- 

 tunately for science, gave birth to two young ones, thus enabling me to add 

 a description of the species in this early stage of its existence. 



I have already, in a former communication to the Society,! called atten- 

 tion to several remarkable instances of assimilative colouring, for protective 

 purposes, in the members of the genus Naultinus in New Zealand. The 

 bright green tints of one species enables it almost to defy discovery amidst 

 the evergreen foliage of the native shrubs ; the marbled-brown skin of 

 another is peculiarly adapted for concealment as it clings to the bark of a 

 tree, or hides in the crevices ; whilst a third, which inhabits the sulphur- 

 crusted grounds in the Lake District, is of a uniform bright sulphur-yellow. 



The form which I have now the pleasure of describing affords another 

 illustration of this law of protective resemblance to natural surroundings. 

 The peculiar markings which distinguish it from the other species, present- 

 ing patches of pale-brown and minute granulations of yellow, so exactly 

 resemble the cryptogamic vegetation covering its usual haunts that it might 

 safely defy detection under the very eye of the naturalist ! ' 

 Naultinus sylvestris, sp.nov. 



The whole of the upper surface blackish-brown, beautifully variegated 

 with pale brown and sulphur yellow, the latter colour being dristributed in 

 irregular patches of minute granulations like the spores of a lichen, the 

 whole being very suggestive of the spreading cryptogamic growths that are 

 found adhering, in flat crusts, to the bark of certain trees. Fronto-nasal 

 scales yellowish brown and shining ; the upper surface of the head blackish 

 brown, dusted over in an irregular manner with minute punct^ of dull 

 golden yellow or grey. On the nape the yellow assumes the form of a 

 broad transverse patch, and this colour is continued down both sides of the 



* This paper should have appeared in last year's volume of the " Transactions," but 

 the MS. was not received in time, and a mere precis was given at page 314. Being in the 

 author's hands it was unfortunately omitted from the proper place in the present 

 volume. — Ed, 



f " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Vol. m., p. 9, 



