Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/262

234 I once gave one a pretty severe knock with a stick, and, supposing it to be dead, put it in my pocket, from which it escaped half an hour after as I walked along. Once more I struck it, and thought there could be no doubt of its death; but, happening to look about ten minutes after, I noticed it cautiously opening its eyes. On another occasion I experimented with one which had been in my possession for some time. I took it up by the middle, when it directly let its head and tail droop and closed its eyes, simulating death. I then laid it on its back (which was a very uncomfortable posture, considering that its back was bent into a bow-shape), and it remained in that position with its head and long tail quite stiff and not touching the ground. After about fifteen minutes had elapsed it cautiously opened one eye, but otherwise did not move until half an hour had elapsed, when it slowly turned its head round, suddenly jumped up, and ran away. When chasing its prey, or when being pursued, this species darts along with great rapidity, but often takes no notice of an intruder, relying on its colour, which assimilates so readily with the surrounding rock that it is sometimes very difficult (even when quite close) to distinguish it. It is oviparous. The tongue, which is full and rounded at the extremity, is covered with a viscous fluid, by help of which it secures its prey, which consists of spiders, insects, &c. The ordinary length of a full-grown specimen is about fifteen inches, two-thirds of which are taken up by the tail.

I have never met with a more variable species. Specimens taken from each end of the scale of variation would undoubtedly be regarded as distinct species were it not for the connecting links. Some have the dorsal ridge distinctly serrated, while in others it is quite smooth. Again, as regards coloration, many of them have a row of oblong-ovate spots of a light French-grey colour (quite distinct from one another) on each side of the dorsal ridge, while in others these spots are so connected as to form one straight wide band. Another noticeable character is change of colour by heat. The largest specimen I procured, and which was found under a stone on a cold day, was, when caught, a dull slaty colour, almost black; but, on looking at it after a few days, I was surprised to find it changed to a mottled grey colour, with light spots along each side of the median ridge. I have observed since that on cold mornings before the sun shines it is the dark colour, but as the warmth increases it gradually becomes lighter in hue, until it assumes the pale colour before mentioned. This Lizard is sometimes externally infested with a species of tick, and internally with two or more species? (or varieties) of Entozoa.— (Sydney, N.S.W.).