1882.] John Cockbum--0/^ tJie hallts of a little hiown Lizard. 53 



flesh-coloured edging might in them be rather described as an interrupted 

 flesh-coloured line. The general colour assimilates itself to the black cotton 

 soil which this lizard particularly affects. I have never captured a male in 

 the crimson state, but have observed that they can assume a faint rosy 

 tinge and also a bright green. The males have a distinct physiognomy, 

 slenderer bodies, but stouter limbs than the females. The tail is bulbous 

 and thick at the base, with the usual sexual projection, and suddenly 

 tapers. It is always a third longer than in the femaje. The gular sac is 

 developed in both sexes, but is more massive and has a distinctive 

 masculine outline in the male. These notes on colouration present the 

 sexes in breeding livery, August and September. 



The tissue below the nuchal and dorsal crests would appear to be of an 

 erectile nature. These crests I observed much developed in a male during a 

 paroxysm of excitement when it acquired a distinctly arched outline. Many 

 of the females when captured were entirely scarlet and evidently under 

 strong sexual excitement. Their behaviour is then remarkable and most 

 amusing. A female under these circumstances twirls the tail, inflates her 

 gular sac, and gives the ho&j a peculiar wriggle. 



Brachysaura is a sluggish lizard, with a dull and heavy habit of body 

 and grows much larger than any specimens I have sent to the Museum. 

 Both B. ornata and Sitana minor are ground lizards, but I have observed 

 them hanging in an awkward fashion from nearly bare stalks 3|- feet above 

 ground. Though both frequent the open by choice, their holes are usually 

 at the roots of a Spurgewort (Galofropis) or a Bair bush (Zizyphus) ; a deser- " 

 ted rat burrow is often used. They do not seem to be very prolific, laying 

 from eight to ten eggs, yet they are numerically abundant in certain spots ; 

 for 1 captured no less than 50 wifchin a mile of my house, chiefly on the 

 Banda race-course. This lizard must be considered decidedly stupid. Large 

 and heavy specimens are hardly able to run, and in fact do not attempt it ; 

 but if pressed show fight with open jaws, actually leaping, at an offending 

 object. It can give a sharp nip and holds ou like a bull dog. 



I am at a loss to conceive how Bracliysciura maintains itself in such 

 numbers against the numerous predacious animals that prey on lizards. 

 The genera Oorvus^ 3Iilous, Poliornis, Rerpestes, Felis, Qanis, Ptyas^ Naja, 

 Varanus and a host of other enemies all abound in the localities where it is 

 found ; Galotes and Jlromastix are an important item in the food of these 

 animals. Sitana I have often observed impaled on a thorn by a Lanius. 



The only exi^lanation I can offer is, that it has some objectionable 

 flavour or poisonous protective quality which renders it secure from attack. 

 I was in hoj)es that the experiment of offering one to some Raptor would 

 have been made at the Zoological Gardens here, but the subject seems to 

 have escaped attention. I may mention that the natives of Banda firmly 

 8 



