SAURIA. 89 



Varanus kordensis Meyer. 

 Meyer, Mon. Berl. akad., 1874, p. 131. Boulengee, Cat. lizards Brit, mus., 1885, 2, p. 322. 



Type locality: — Korido (Kordo), Wiak Island (Mysore), Schouten group. 

 Two fine examples from the Aru Islands, taken there by Mr. A. E. Pratt. 

 They are both coal-black above and below. 



Takydromus sexlineatus Daudin. 

 Daudin, Hist. nat. rept., 1802, 3, p. 256, pi. 39. Boulenger, Cat. lizards Brit, mus., 1887, 3, p. 4. 



Type locality: — unknown. 



The specific name quadrilineatus for this species was based on what was 

 without doubt the same species, and occurs in Daudin on an earlier page (252). 

 According to the usage of some writers, ornithologists especially, this name, 

 from the mere fact of its place in the volume, becomes ipso facto the only avail- 

 able name for the species. It seems, however, better to follow the rule that the 

 first reviser can designate the name by which the species shall be known. All 

 authors have used sexlineatus. The alternative name, quadrilineatus, which 

 seems never to have appeared in the literature but once, is thus sharply dis- 

 posed of. 



This is an extremely common species in open country, and both Bryant 

 and I got large series in west Java. 



Tiliqua gigas (Schneider). 

 Schneider, Hist. Amphib., 1801, 3, p. 202. Boulenger, Cat. lizards Brit, mus., 1887, 3, p. 144. 



Type locality: — Ambon. 



This species was taken twice at Ternate, and once at Wahaai, Ceram. 

 Under the notes on Java I have expressed my doubt as to the probability that the 

 record for that island (Berlin mus. 10,490, Bantam) is correct, even though there 

 seems to be every semblance of accuracy. 



Mabuya multifasciata (Kuhl). 

 KuHL, Beitr. zool. und vergl. anat., 1820, p. 126. Boulenger, Cat. lizards Brit, mus., 1887, 3, p. 186. 



Type locality: — not given. 



One of the most wide-ranging of the skinks (cf. table). Specimens were 

 preserved as follows: — thirty-five from Buitenzorg, Java; one from Wahaai, 

 Ceram; seven from Patani, Halmahera; one from Gane, Halmahera; nine 

 from Ternate; and one from Meosbundi, Wiak Island, Schouten group, which 

 seems to be the first Papuan record for the species. It is probably not arti- 

 ficially introduced, as there has been very little intercourse Avith this place, owing 

 to the hostility of the natives, who are even yet considered especially dangerous . 



