﻿HuTTON. — On the Lizards of New Zealand. 171 



Sub-species stellatus. — Stouter in its pi-oportions, two inter-nasal shields, 

 no pre-anal pores in the female ; (male imknown). 



Colours. — Above reddish-purple, getting yellowish towards the muzzle. 

 From the base of the upper lip to the ear, and again behind the ear, a white 

 streak ; another on each side of the crown. Down each side of the back a 

 row of six four-rayed star-shaped white spots, and on each side of the upper 

 part of the tail a row of about ten irregular, angular, white spots. On each 

 side a row of foiir rounded, or stellate white spots, and below them an 

 interrupted band of white. Lower surface yellowish white, tinted with 

 purple on the belly. Limbs yellowish purple, spotted with yellowish white ; 

 feet and toes yellow. 



Length, from muzzle to tail, 1-35 inch ; of tail, 1-33 inch. 



This specimen is a female. It was obtained by Mr. Brough, under stones 

 among the snow, near the top of Mount Arthur, in the province of Nelson. 

 It is now in the ISTelson Museum. This specimen differs very much from the 

 typical elegans, not only in its colours, but in its stouter form, and in the 

 absence of pre-anal pores ; but, until more are obtained, I hesitate to call 

 it a distinct species. 



The iigure of N. elegans given in the Transactions of the New Zealand 

 Institute, Yol. III., p. 4, is not that species, but iV. punctatus. 



Naultinus punctatus. 



Kpunctatus, Gray, '' Dieff. N.Z.," Yol. 11, p. 203. K Grayi, Bell, "Yoy. 

 Beagle," Yol. III., p. 27. Hoplodactylus punctatus et Gray% Fitz. 



This species is distinguished from the last by its larger size, more robust 

 toes, and the scales on the fore part of the head being flatter. The male, 

 which is the N. Grayi of Bell, has the head concave, and a single inter-nasal 

 shield ; a large square patch of ^^I'e-anal j)ores, and a triangular patch 

 extending for some distance up each thigh. The conical scales at the root of 

 the tail ai-e much developed, forming short spines, and there is a large 

 rounded swelling just behind the vent. In the female the inter-nasal shield is 

 divided into two, the head is miich more fiat, only one or two of the pre-anal 

 scales are punctured, and there are no pores on the thighs. The average 

 length is about 6 "5 inches, of which the tail occupies about one half. 



In colour this species is vai'iable, being sometimes a uniform green above 

 and yellowish below, but usiially the top of the head and the back are marked 

 with oblong yellow or white spots ; it appears occasionally to turn purple in 

 spirits, but generally retains its green colour. 



This species is much more common than the last ; both are found in the 

 open fern land. 



