learn something of their habits and attitudes, of which very- 

 little appears to be known. With this view they were placed 

 together in a large wire-netted cage, about 10 ft. long by 4 ft. 

 wide by 3 ft. high, which gave them plenty of room to move 

 about. 



Though, from what can be gleaned from books, there 

 appears to be a general similarity as to habits in all the mem- 

 bers of this well-marked and widely-spread group, I could find 

 but the scantiest references to this Australian species, and, 

 supplementing our own observations by the results of inquiries 

 made from those who know the animal in its wild state, I am 

 able to offer a few notes of a little-known reptile that may not 

 be without interest. Incidentally our observations have 

 enabled us now to mount specimens in natural attitudes and 

 so to correct various errors into which even the most careful 

 taxidermist can scarcely avoid falling if he has never seen the 

 animal he deals with alive. 



In this connection one may express regret that so many 

 reproductions of badly, or unnaturally, mounted specimens, or 

 of inaccurately-drawn plates, have found their way into books 

 of natural history purporting to give true representations of 

 the animals in their natural state. These reproductions, re- 

 peated as they so often are from book to book, or serving as 

 models for other mounted specimens, lead to the perpetuation 

 of very erroneous ideas as to the real attitudes and true appear- 

 ance of the animals in life. It is hoped that the illustrations 

 accompanying this paper, which are reproductions from 

 photographs of the living animals, will, so far as the species 

 is concerned, at least serve as faithful models, either for the 

 taxidermist or zoological artist, of an animal not often 

 observed at close quarters. I think it will also be acknow- 

 ledged that the Museum taxidermists have in their recently 

 mounted specimens very accurately reproduced some of the 

 unsuspected yet, as it appears, very characteristic attitudes 

 of these reptiles. 



The two monitors, received in a perfectly sound and 

 healthy condition, and in process of shedding their skin in 

 patches, were kept under observation in their cage for over 

 three months. From what I had heard of their great voracity 

 and comprehensive tastes in their wild state I anticipated that 

 there would be no difficulty in feeding them, but though eggs, 

 dead and live mice and sparrows, live guinea pigs, and a live 

 rabbit were at different times placed in the cage, they 

 voluntarily ate nothing, and, with the exception to be men- 

 tioned directly, they did not attempt to interfere with any of 

 these animals, nor did the latter show any fear of their 

 formidable companions. Thinking the reptiles might at 



