1921 .] 
Robinson.—Voltage-drop in Circuits. 
263 
Table II. 
Cos 6 . 
Tan 6 . 
Cos 0 . 
Tan 0. 
1-00 
0-000 
0-75 
0-882 
0-98 
0-203 
0-70 
1-020 
0-95 
0-328 
0-65 
1-176 
090 
0-484 
0-60 
1-333 
085 
0-620 
0-55 
1-519 
0-80 
0-750 
0-50 
1-732 
NATURAL-HISTORY NOTES. 
Occurrence of the Australian Slow-worm in New Zealand, by W. R. B. 
Oliver, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 
Although various vertebrates have been recorded as being accidentally 
introduced to New Zealand by ships, I am not aware that any reptile has 
hitherto been noticed. The capture of a live specimen of the Australian 
slow-worm (Pygopus lepidopodus) in Wellington is therefore of sufficient 
interest to place on record. A specimen was brought to the Dominion 
Museum on the 10th May, 1921, by Mr. P. Scoringe, who had noticed it 
that morning in Taranaki Street, near the water’s edge, and killed it by 
crushing its head. It is presumed that it had been unintentionally carried 
to New Zealand in a cargo-vessel. When the lizard reached the Museum it 
still showed signs of life. This specimen measures 12J in. in length, of 
which 2J in. consists of the renewed growth of a broken-off tail. The 
scales on the body are elongate and strongly keeled, as is characteristic 
of the species, but those on the new portion of the tail are shorter and 
show only faint indications of a keel. The length from the snout to the 
base of the tail is in., so that it appears to be fully grown. It has not 
quite finished casting its skin, portions of the slough still adhering to the 
back and tail. 
The Australian slow-worm is found commonly throughout Australia, 
and is also recorded from Tasmania. It is a member of an Australian 
family of lizards, Pygopodidae, characterized by having the fore limbs 
entirely wanting and the hind limbs reduced to scaly flaps. On account 
of its snake-like appearance it is generally regarded as a species of snake, 
and, to quote Lucas and Le Souef, “ suffers for its resemblance.” The 
fate of the present example supports this statement. The length of a 
full-grown individual is about 2 ft., of which nearly three-fourths belongs 
to the tail; but, owing to the animal’s habit of snapping off portions of 
its tail on little provocation and of reproducing a new one, short specimens 
are frequently taken. The new portion of the tail is easily detected by 
having scales of different pattern and size to those of the rest of the body. 
Lo^ania depressa, by W. R. B. Oliver, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 
There are some species of plants in the New Zealand flora so rare that 
they have been found only once in a lifetime, while a few have never been 
collected since their first discovery. The present note deals with one of 
these, with a view to attracting the attention of those who have the 
opportunity to visit its domain, so that specimens may be gathered and 
its relationships better understood. 
