RECORDS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE REPTILES AND 
BATRACHIANS OF THE COLLECTION. 
(Plate XIV, text figures 14-16.) 
By Paul A. Methuen and John Hewitt. 
Some general remarks on the colour of species dealt with in this paper in 
relation to the environment. 
The phenomenon rightly or wrongly termed “Protective Colouration” is 
well exhibited by many species of reptiles in Great Namaqualand. One 
of the best instances noticed is that of the viper Bitis caudalis , one of 
the commonest snakes of the country ; the distinctive markings and 
contrasting colours only serve the more effectively to conceal this sluggish 
creature in its natural surroundings, so much so that the traveller runs a 
risk of treading on the snake before noticing its presence. The great 
variation in intensity of. colour shown amongst different individuals of 
this species was found to be correlated with the changing aspects of the 
surroundings. This species was easily captured and natives who were 
well aware of its poisonous properties collected living specimens without 
any hesitation. 
All the species of Eremias, (with the exception of E. lugubris ), the 
single species of Scapteira and of Nucras which were taken resemble 
their surroundings : at the same time it may be worth recording that 
Eremias lugubris , which is rather conspicuous in its natural haunts, is a 
very difficult lizard to catch partly because it conceals itself in thorn 
bushes when approached, and partly because it is very fleet, and clever in 
avoiding its would-be capturer. 
The “whip snake” Psammophis notosticlus has also the power of 
concealing itself very effectively. Its markings and whip-like body 
render it an inconspicuous object among the bushes on or under which 
(for it is not strictly a tree-climber) it was always found. When chased 
it will move from one bush to another with great rapidity, and it is 
exceedingly difficult to locate it on these occasions, for the creature ceases 
to move directly it is ensconced in a bush. 
The species of Agama are particularly interesting in that whereas 
under certain circumstances they are protectively coloured to a great 
degree, the same individuals may at other times be ranked amoim the 
most conspicuous of natural objects. Agama cttra which was invariably 
found in rocky or stony places was found usually to harmonize well with 
its surroundings, the colours of various individuals varying somewhat 
according to these surroundings. A striking case was noticed in the 
Little Karas Mountains when a $ specimen, as black as the stones among 
which it was taken, lost some of its black colour after capture and became 
brown. The gaudily coloured on the other hand are most conspicuous 
objects in their natural surroundings, at all events to the human observer, 
[ 118 1 
