LIZARDS. 93 
reticulations upon a dark, almost black ground, while in £. depressa, the spots or 
reticulations are black, or very dark, upon a pale pearl-grey ground. As a rule, 
colour characters are held by systematic biologists to be of but little value; 
when, however, such colour distinction is found to obtain without exception 
throughout an extensive series of individuals, colour marking, and more especially the 
pattern of its distribution, undoubtedly becomes a_ reliable element in specific 
diagnosis. These sculpturing of 
superficially very ae ne their scales. The 
closely allied contour of the 
species are found body of the 
to differ materi- smaller variety is 
ally in their more also, as its tech- 
minute structural | nical name im- 
organisation, plies, very much 
SPINE-TAILED LIZARD, Eyernia depressa, TWO-THIRDS NATURAL SIZE. 
notably in the more depressed. 
In captivity these two species of Egernia manifested a much more shy and 
retiring disposition than the several lizards previously described. At all times, unless 
feeding, they displayed the most active desire to take advantage of the nearest covert 
that presented itself, and, under such conditions, much patience had to be exercised 
in securing the several photographic representations of the species that are reproduced 
in these pages. The food question with these lizards was, on their first acquisition, 
a troublesome one. They utterly refused to take of their own accord, animal food of 
any kind which, judging from the carnivorous habits of an allied species, apparently 
E. Kingii, also abundant in the Abrolhos Islands, it was presumed they would 
appreciate. In order to keep them alive, small pieces of meat were daily 
administered them by gentle persuasion, and these, on being placed well within 
their mouths, were contentedly swallowed. Later on, the chance placing of a 
fragment of vegetable material within reach of their perambulations elicited the fact 
that they were essentially vegetable feeders, and from that date they regaled regularly 
and voraciously on fruit and vegetable substances of the most varied description, 
lettuce leaves, however, usually proving the prime favourite. 
A little episode in their pre-salad “ beef-eating” days will be found somewhat 
quaintly represented in the photographic reproduction appended as a tail-piece to this 
Chapter. It portrays three specimens of Eyernia Stokesii sitting up patiently awaiting 
their mid-day meal. In order to repress their otherwise too ardent tendencies to run 
