334 



VII. J. ANDERSON ON THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND 



extensive nmd-flat cut up by the narrow channels down which 

 the streams run. Near its seaward extremity there are a few 

 wooded islets, their rocky beaches facing the sea being rich in 

 corals and Gorgonice, partially visible at the lowest tides, while 

 their other sides continuous with the mud-flats are covered with 

 stony patches, among which are found brilliantly coloured sponges, 

 PennatulidcB and Actinice occurring in profusion in the soft 

 deep mud of the great bank. Among these remarkable estuarine 

 conditions this crocodile is frequently seen basking at low water 

 on the banks of the se award extensions of the streams close to the 

 corals and sponges. On the other hand, it is equally abundant 

 on the rocky shores of Elphinstone, Domel, and Sullivan Islands, 

 all of which are more or less surrounded by coral, washed by the 

 salt sea. 



The lizard, Varanus salvator, was also met with on all the islands 

 I visited. 



Calotes Emma is the tree-lizard most frequently seen on the 

 islands ; whereas C. versicolor appears to be the species most 

 prevalent at Mergui. 



The call of the great gecko, G. verti'cillatus, became a familiar 

 sound to me at night during my sojourn in the Archipelago; and 

 Ilemidactylus frenatus I found to be common at the village of 

 Taing, on King Island. 



Among the shrubs and Casuarina-trees fringing in some places 

 the western shore of Sullivan Island, Draco taniopterus was not 

 uncommon ; and I also found it on Elphinstone Island, and 

 observed it in considerable numbers among the dorian and man- 

 gosteen orchards of the eastern side of King Island ; but 1 did not 

 meet with a single specimen of D. maculatus, which occurs at 

 Mergui along with the former. 



The skink, Lygosoma maculatum, is much more prevalent and 

 eemingly more widely distributed than Mabuia multijasciala, as 

 it occurs at Mergui, and on King, Elphinstone, and Sullivan 

 Islands, whereas tin; latter spe cies, which is common at Mergui 

 and on King Island, was not found at Elphinstone Island, and 

 only oik; specimen was obtained at Sullivan Island. 



Five snakes were found on Elphinstone Island, viz. Compsosoma 

 mi lunururn, Tropnlonolux c/tr/j.sargu.s, Trayops prasinus, Uo/Iirops 

 gramineue, and B, purpureus ; whereas on the much larger King 

 I. -hi nd, ho intimately connected with the mainland, ten species, all 

 distinct from the former, wore obtained, viz. Tropidonolus junccus, 



