OTOSAURUS 163 



Remarks. — This species was first observed on Bitinan, a small 

 island north of Jolo, Sulu Archipelago. It was also observed on 

 Jolo and on most of the southern islands visited by me. The first 

 specimen was taken on Tawitawi. It appears to be very common 

 but is extremely difficult to capture. It does not replace either of 

 the other species of Mabuya, M. multicarinata or M. midtifas- 

 data, since the three apparently occur with the same frequency 

 on the islands from Bitinan to Sibutu Channel. I did not 

 observe any of the three species on the Sibutu group between 

 Sibutu and Alice Channels, but I suspect they are present there, 

 since all three are known to occur in Borneo. 



Many of the specimens seen had the anterior part of the 

 body a bright russet to orange color; in others the orange 

 color was present low on the sides of the body. 



It is extremely elusive, and specimens shot with an air rifle 

 usually managed to escape. Unlike M. multicarinata, but similar 

 to M, multi fas data, it takes refuge in holes in the ground which 

 are probably burrows made by it. 



It occurs in Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Celebes. In the 

 Philippines it is known only from the Sulu Archipelago and 

 Zamboanga. 



Genus OTOSAURUS Gray 



Otosaums Gray, Cat. Liz. (1845) 93. 



Lygosoma sec. Otosaurus Boulenger, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 3 (1887) 201. 



Parotosaurus Boulenger, Trans. Zool. Soc. London 20 (1914) 257. 



Legs well developed, pentadactyl. Lower eyelid scaly. Ear 

 opening large, without auricular lobules. Supranasals present. 

 Frontal not broader than supraocular region. Frontoparietals 

 distinct. Enlarged preahals. 



Otosaurus cumingii Gray, the only species of the genus that is 

 known from the Philippines, is the largest skink found in the 

 Islands. 



OTOSAURUS CUMINGII Gray 

 Plate 13, fig. 2 



Otosaurus cumingii Gray, Cat. Liz. (1845) 93. 



Euprepes otus Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1867) 20. 



Otosaurus cnirrwngii Gunther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 76; 



F. MtJLLER, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel. Mus. (1883) 21. 

 Lygosoma cumingii Boulenger, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 3 (1887) 209, pL 



16, fig. 2. 



Description of species. — (From No. 861, E. H. Taylor collec- 

 tion; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, August, 1912, 

 by E. H. Taylor.) Rostral about as broad as deep, the sides 

 narrowing much in front of first labial; supranasals elongate, 



