326 TUB ZOOLOGIST. 



duals are found in Malta ; the latter are, however, the more 

 common. I do not think that this difference of colour is due to 

 age or sex, for I have seen both light and dark individuals of all 

 dimensions and of both sexes. 



Of our reptiles, this is the species which thrives best in 

 confinement, where it also breeds most freely ; it is viviparous. 

 The specimens I kept in my vivaria never produced more than 

 four at each birth. 



[Some Chamaeleons were imported about thirty or forty 

 years ago, and set free in the gardens of the Jesuits College at 

 St. Julian's, where they seem to have reproduced. I do not 

 think, however, that this is a sufficient reason for us to include 

 the species amongst our indigenous reptiles ; moreover, having 

 tried lately to procure a specimen, I was told by the gardener 

 that he had not seen a single one for the last five or six years.] 



The Snakes are represented by two species, one of which has 

 a variety. These are : (1) the Dark-green Snake (Zamenis 

 gemonensis) ; with its black variety (Z. gemonensis var. carbonaria, 

 Bonap.); (2) the Leopard Snake (Coluber leopardinus, Bonap.). 



The Dark-green Snake, or typical form, is pretty common in 

 the fields. Much more common, however, is the second, namely, 

 the black variety. According to Dr. Gulia, this last is very 

 common on some hills of Gozo. 



The Leopard Snake is pretty frequent, but by no means 

 common like the foregoing. It seems to prefer dark and sheltered 

 localities, so much so that it is often found in cellars and other 

 subterranean localities, not only in villages but also in the towns. 



Of the two species of Snakes the last is the best for keeping 

 in a vivarium ; the first does not seem to be susceptible of 

 domestication. It generally refuses to take any food, and its 

 vicious character renders it by no means a sympathetic pet. 



Both species are oviparous, laying cartilaginous-shelled eggs 

 I have never seen the eggs laid by specimens in confinement. 



[Giglioli found a specimen of the Cat-Snake (Tarbophis vivax) 

 in Malta, and so Dr. Gulia includes the species with our reptiles, 

 saying it is very rare. I do not think, however, that the finding 

 of a single specimen entitles the species to form a part of our 

 list ; moreover, exotic individuals have been more than once 

 introduced with imported hay, straw, &c] 



