IIOKN EXPEDITION — SUMMARY. 147 



occipitalis and Tyinpaiwcryptis lincnta extend across the soutli of tlie continent from 

 West Australia to the interior of Victoria. 



3. A series of northei-n forms. These include Hefcroiwta hyiioei, Ncplirurus 

 asper, N. iaevis, Diplodactylus ci/iaris, PJiysipiatliu^ /tuis^iivsfr/s, J'nra/n/s i^ii^n/i/cns, 

 /' pinictatns, V. ncatifhuriis, Hiiinlia fasciolnta. 



4. A series peculiar so far as yet known to tlio Central district. These 

 include Ehejinvin Jwrni, CeraJiiodacfyhis damcrus, Diplodactylus tyriiei, Ty»ipa?io- 

 cryptis tt'trnporop/iora. Diporofiiora 7vi>niec/cei, Vnj-aiius crciitiiis, J^. ^i/if/zi, liliodoiia 

 tetradactyla, Opliidioctplialus t<viiintiis. 



The aflinities with the western species are the most marked. Out of thirty- 

 eight species no fewer than twenty-two are found in Westei'n Australia. 



The ne.xt greatest amount of alhnity lies with the Northern Territory and 

 Noitli Queensland, which iiave between them fourteen in common with the Centre. 

 Victoria and New South Wales only share with the Centre some five ubiquitous 

 species, while witli Tasmania there are not more than two species in common. 



In the case of the Lacertilia we see again, as in the Marsupials, a marked 

 lin(! of distinction between the interior and the south-eastern coastal fauna, a still 

 more strongly marked alhnity between the Centre and the west, and unlike the 

 Marsupials, a strong alfinity with the north. 



One result of the large series of forms secured has been the discovery of a very 

 large amount of variation in forms closely allied but hitherto considered to !>(> 

 distinct from one anothei', and in consequence of this the merging of certain 

 species. Thus, for example, Nephri/riis Idvis and N. platyuriis are merged in the 

 former species ; the opinion of Dr. Gunther that Hetcronotct derl>iana and IP. lynoci 

 are variations of the one species is confirmed ; Tynipanocryptis tetrnporophorn 

 serves to connect T. tiiicatn and T. cepliatiis, while the large series of II. IcsticitJ-ii 

 cau.se Messrs. Lucas and Frost to say,* " Thus we shall be prepared to include as 

 varieties of the last named // spnidingi, Macleay {= H. dorsalis, Blgr.), H. le,t>, 

 Blgr., H. stra/iciiii, Blgr., II. inoniafa, Gray, H. cssingtotiii, Gray, H. ?inicl/eri, 

 Fischer, and H. tcciiiolata, White." 



Amongst the vertebrata the lizards, as might have been expected from the 

 nature of the country, form the most striking part of the fauna, and probably 

 there yet remain a consideiviljie number of species to be obtained, but these lie 

 amongst the rarer and le.ss widely dispersed forms. 



* Loc. cit., p. 113 



*10a 



