CoLENSo. — On a supposed new Species of Naiiltinus. 251 



light oblique streak running down from the anterior and posterior corners 

 of the eye, and diverging to the rim of the upper jaw. Male without sound- 

 bag. 



Coromandel, near Auckland. 



Aet. XXVI. — Notes and Ohservations on the Animal Economy and Habits of 



one of our New Zealand Lizards, sujjposed to be a new Species of Naultmus. 



By W. CoLENso, F.L.S. 



[Read hefore the Hatvke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 12th May, 1879.] 



Having had ample opportunities, during the past year, of observing the 



habits and manners of these elegant little animals in a state of captivity, and 



believing all such to be almost wholly unknown, I have thought it desirable 



to give a pretty full description of the same ; seeing, too, that I succeeded 



better in rearing and keeping alive these lizards than I did with the larger 



one, Hatteria punctata (or Sphenodon), in 1840. 



In the winter of 1878, I received a glass jar from Hampden, in this 

 provincial district, containing three full-grown living green lizards. They 

 were pretty nearly alike in size ; two of them were spotted with large irre- 

 gular-shaped light-green spots, or markings, and one was wholly green. 

 They had been found together, a short time before, in a hole, with a fourth, 

 which was accidentally killed ; and, on their captm-e, were put carefully 

 into a jar, and packed loosely in moss. On my receiving them I found 

 them apparently very well, but unwilling to move or to face the light, 

 seeking to bury themselves more and more in their mossy bed, so I left 

 them alone, believing they were hybernating. Meanwhile, I made many 

 enquiries, by letter, as to their " hole," its hnings, etc., but gained httle 

 reliable information, save that " in it, and -^ith them, was a lot of stuff like 

 blasting powder;" this, I have reason to believe, was the faecal debris. I 

 greatly regretted the loss of the fourth, as I think that would have proved 

 to be a green male. 



During the winter I looked at them three or four times, but they always 

 acted in the same manner, as if averse to having their quiet sleep disturbed. 

 On again looking at them early in October, I found them wholly altered ; 

 they were now desirous of coming to the light, restless, and pawing against 

 the glass, and had increased in number, having four little ones ! two being 

 spotted with white, and two entirely green ; their lovely little bodies looking 

 as if cased in silk velvet instead of scales ; this appearance continued for 

 some weeks, I now lost no time in removing them to more suitable 



