Preface. 



using them as Draco is known to do : at the same time, he ap- 

 pears to have been ignorant of their burrowing habits and to 

 have only noted them in captivity. His words are, « Twelve were 

 at one time obtained from a spice plantation in province A\ el- 

 lesley •" and again, " the Malay who brought the lizards asserted 

 they were frugivorous, and might be fed with soft fruit and boiled 

 rice which was perfectly true." These are not the words of an 

 observer of the animal in a state of nature, and no allusion is 

 made to their gregarious cuniculine mode of life. 



It would be very interesting to determine, if, as I suspect may 

 be the case, Moloch horridus from Australia belongs to the same 

 family and exhibits the same traits ; but I did not like to injure the 

 Society's specimen by opening it, when a query will probably 

 elicit fuller information from those able to obtain it from fresh 



specimens. 



The family Geoemydida3, 1 have established for those Emydmaa 

 whose males have a concave sternum; a sexual adaptation to 



their terrestrial habits. 



The following have been the most important contributors 

 to the reptile collection, though its neglected state is an 

 un-rateful return for the liberality of the donors. Contra spem 

 meliora speramus ! Dr. Kelaart. Ceylon; Major Berdmore, 

 Pegu • Major W. S. Sherwill, Darjeeling ; Rev. F. Fitzgerald, 

 North Carolina; Dr. Jerdon, South India; W. Theobald, Esq., 

 Jnr., Punjab and Pegu ; E. Eobinson, Esq., Assam ; Lieut.-Cols. 

 Phayre and Tytler, and others noted in the proper place. 



I must not omit to record my obligation to H. H. Locke, Esq. 

 for the great care he has bestowed on the Plates, which, it mus 

 be allowed, reflect considerable credit on his pupils to whom theii 



execution was entrusted. 



W. THEOBALD, Junior. 



Calcutta, Sept. 1865. 



