CoLENSO. — 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 cry 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 Uttle 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 2-3 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 several hours. I have also observed 

 the young ones standing for a considerable time with the 6th (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 

 will in 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 then- 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 umiaturally over the edge ; I first observed it about 5 p.m., at 



