368 ItEPTILIA. 



The Australian Lizard [Cyclodus, Wagler; Tiliqua, Gray 1 ]. 



This comes nearer to the genus Scincus than any lizard I know, hut 

 it is still a distinct species. In the two specimens sent over by Mr. 

 White 2 , one had a process on the upper part of the tail near the tip, 

 almost like a supernumerary or forked tail ; but which I rather con- 

 ceive to be natural ; and, as this one was a male, I am apt to think this 

 is peculiar to that sex. This would in some degree have been more 

 clearly made out if the other, which had not this process, had proved a 

 female ; but as it had been gutted and stuffed before I saw it, which 

 prevented my examination, this still remains to be proved ; but what 

 makes this conjecture very probable is, that it is mentioned by Mr. 

 "White that some are without, and some with this process. Now, if it 

 were a monster, arising either from accident, or originally so formed, 

 it would hardly be so common as to be taken notice of. The tail is 

 longer than in the scincus, and is not so taper. 



The animal is of a dark iron-grey colour, which is of different 

 shades in different parts, forming kind of stripes across the back and 

 tail. The scales are strong, but not so much so as those of the scincus. 

 The legs are short and strong, covered with the same kind of scales as 

 the body ; but the scales on the feet are not so. On the cuticle are 

 small knobs, as if it were studded. 



The toes on each foot are pretty regular, the difference in length 

 not being great; the same on both the fore- and hind-feet; which 

 is not the case with the scincus, it having a long middle-toe. There 

 is a small short nail on each toe. The toes on their upper sur- 

 face are covered with a series of scales, which go half round like a coat 

 of mail. 



Just within the verge of the external opening of the ear, on the 

 anterior edge, is a membrane covering about one third of it, which is 

 scalloped on its loose or unattached edge. This can hardly be called an 

 external ear, nor can it be called the reverse, viz. a valve : it is pro- 

 bably an assistant to hearing ; if so, then it should be called an external 

 ear 3 . 



The teeth are a row on each side of each jaw, becoming gradually 

 larger backwards. They are short above the gum, and rounded off, 

 fitted for breaking or bruising of substances, more than cutting or 



1 [Parts of the skeletons of the Cyclodus niger (Nos. 655, 656), of the Cyclodus 

 scineoides (No. 657), and of the Cyclodus gigas (Nos. 659, 660, 661), are preserved 

 in the Hunterian Osteological Series.] 



2 [See Note, p. 249.] 



3 [Hunt. Prep. Phys. Series, No. 1605.] 



