234 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



I once gave one a pretty severe knock with a stick, and, supposing it 

 to be dead, put it in my pocket, from which it escaped half an hour after 

 as I walked along. Once more I struck it, and thought there could be 

 no doubt of its death ; but, happening to look about ten minutes after, I 

 noticed it cautiously opening its eyes. On another occasion I experimented 

 with one which had been in my possession for some time. I took it up by 

 the middle, when it directly let its head and tail droop and closed its 

 eyes, simulating death. I then laid it on its back (which was a very un- 

 comfortable posture, considering that its back was bent into a bow-shape), 

 and it remained in that position with its head and long tail quite stiff and 

 not touching the ground. After about fifteen minutes had elapsed it 

 cautiously opened one eye, but otherwise did not move until half an hour 

 had elapsed, when it slowly turned its head round, suddenly jumped up, 

 and ran away. When chasing its prey, or when being pursued, this species 

 darts along with great rapidity, but often takes no notice of an intruder, 

 reiving on its colour, which assimilates so readily with the surrounding 

 rock that it is sometimes very difficult (even when quite close) to distinguish 

 it. It is oviparous. The tongue, which is full and rounded at the extremity, 

 is covered with a viscous fluid, by help of which it secures its prey, which 

 consists of spiders, insects, &c. The ordinary length of a full-grown 

 specimen is about fifteen inches, two-thirds of which are taken up by 

 the tail. 



I have never met with a more variable species. Specimens taken from 

 each end of the scale of variation would undoubtedly be regarded as distinct 

 species were it not for the connecting links. Some have the dorsal ridge 

 distinctly serrated, while in others it is quite smooth. Again, as regards 

 coloration, many of them have a row of oblong-ovate spots of a light 

 French-grey colour (quite distinct from one another) on each side of the 

 dorsal ridge, while in others these spots are so connected as to form one 

 straight wide band. Another noticeable character is change of colour by 

 heat. The largest specimen I procured, and which was found under a 

 stone on a cold day, was, when caught, a dull slaty colour, almost black ; 

 but, on looking at it after a few days, I was surprised to find it changed to 

 a mottled grey colour, with light spots along each side of the median ridge. 

 I have observed since that on cold mornings before the sun shines it is the 

 dark colour, but as the warmth increases it gradually becomes lighter in 

 hue, until it assumes the pale colour before mentioned. This Lizard is 

 sometimes externally infested with a species of tick, and internally with 

 two or more species? (or varieties) of Entozoa. — David G. Stead (Syduey, 

 N.S.W.). 





