broad arrowhead, posteriorly united by a narrow stalk to a rectangular transversal band, situated in front of the eyes. On the vertex another, larger figure, traced in whitish outline, rectangular in front, spreading like a four-rayed star over the occiput. A dark brown band proceeds from behind the eye, across the ear, to the shoulders, where it is lost in the general dark brown colour of the sides of the body. The superior margins of these two lateral bands are white proceeding backwards in zig-zag line, approaching each other over the shoulders, where they join the anterior black transversal line. The lips white. The membranes of the cheeks pale flesh-colour, with dark blue spots, and with the interstices between the scales pale lilac. The pupil vertical, dentilated; the iris rich golden brown.

Back. Of the same ground colour as the head, becoming dark reddish brown on the sides, relieved by 4 to 6 distant transversal black dotted lines, on the upper part of the form of the letter M, sending oblique, forwards pointed, lines on the sides. The upper part of the lateral membrane reddish brown; the interstices of the small rectangular scales purple.

Tail and limbs. Same ground-colour, as that of the head and back, with broad, distant, indistinctly whitish, transversal bands. On each elbow a whitish ring. Membranes of the tail, limbs and toes are yellowish grey with numerous minute spots of brown, purple, blue and red, which impart a purple, changing appearance to the general colour. The number of the indentations of the caudal membranes varies individually; the posterior part is entire, with waving surfaces.

Lower parts. Brownish white, with a few pale brown spots on the throat, innerside of the limbs, in the palms and soles. The tail and its membranes brownish.

HABIT. Pinang Hills.

Singapore, Java, Ramree Island, (Arracan.)

As correctly observed by M. M. Duméril and Bibron, the scales of the female, corresponding to those with the femoral pores of the male, have a slight, yet distinct, central depression. The female has a large tubercular scale on each side of the root of the tail, as well as the male. In colour and size the two sexes resemble each other. Two individuals were at different times captured in the villa occupied by Sir William Norris on the Great Hill of Pinang.

When the lizard

is at rest, the membranes of the cheeks, and the body are kept in close contact with these parts; in leaping those of the body are somewhat stretched out, and all the membranes together then act as a parachute. Also this lizard has in some degree the power of changing the ground colour from a darker to a lighter shade. The apex of the tongue is rounded, with a small notch in the centre. A female while in my possession refused insects and water. She deposited a single egg, of a spherical form, about half an inch in diameter, soft, and of a yellowish white colour, which the following day she devoured. A male ate the integuments he had been changing. The female was of the following dimensions :

In the Museum of the Asiatic Society is preserved a specimen of Leptophis ornatus, (Merrem,) in the act of devouring one of the present species. The serpent was captured in the island of Ramree on the coast of Arracan.

GEN. HEMIDACTYLUS, Cuvier.

End of the toes widened into an oval disk, with a double series of transverse, imbricate plates beneath. From the middle of the disk rise the slender second and third nailed phalanx. A series of scuta beneath the tail.

HEMIDACTYLUS PERONII, Dum. and Bibr.

SYN.-Hemidactylus leiurus, Gray.

Peripia peronii, Gray Catal.

Under the chin a large triangular figure, composed of six elongated, towards the sides decreasing, scales; thumbs nailless; male with femoral pores; tail much depressed, very broad at the root, tapering towards the point, (sometimes with a small membrane on each side of the point,) with a series of scuta beneath; pupil vertical, shaped like two rhombs placed with the angles towards each other.*

*Such is its appearance in the living animal, when the eye is exposed to the influence of light. M. M. Duméril and Bibron note the pupil being" elliptical," which probably originates in their describing from preserved specimens, although my own in spirits of wine have retained the original form of the pupil.

Above ash-coloured, labial scales whitish, each with a brown spot; beneath whitish. Iris silvery grey, spotted with brown.

HABIT.-Pinang.

Isle of France.

Of two individuals, captured at different times in my house in the valley of Pinang, the larger was of the following dimensions:

Entire length, 4 inches.

HEMIDACTYLUS COCTAI, Dum. and Bibr.

Thumbs well developed, nailed ;* back with minute granular scales; in some individuals with a few larger ones on the sides; tail broad at the root, tapering, a little depressed, with from 4 to 15 indistinct rings and 6 series of minute spines; beneath with scuta; chin with 4 larger scales; the central pair elongate pentagonal; male with 12 femoral pores; pupil as in Hemidactylus peronii.

Above ash-coloured, whitish beneath. HABIT. Pinang.

Bengal, Bombay.

Of two males observed in houses in the valley of Pinang, the larger was of the following dimensions:

HEMIDACTYLUS FRENATUS, Schlegel, MS.

SYN.-Hemidactylus frenatus, Schlegel, apud Dum. and Bibr.

Hemidactylus lateralis,

Hemidactylus quinquelineatus,Gray: B. M.

Back with some larger granular scales; tail rounded, tapering above, with 6 series of small spines, scuta beneath; chin with 4 or 6 larger

* Mr. Gray gives the present species as a Syn, of Boltalia sublavis, Gray, (Catalogue, p. 158.) As the latter species is characterised as having the thumbs" clawless," it cannot be identical with H. coctai.

scales; ears very small; pupil as in the preceding species; thumbs very small, femoral pores 26 to 28, disposed on a slightly angular line.

Young and Adult.-Buff or ash-coloured, with or without brown spots; some with one or two brown lateral bands, commencing one above the other from the muzzle, interrupted or continued to the tail; the latter in some with indistinct brown rings. Beneath whitish or buff.

HABIT.-Malayan Peninsula, Pinang, Singapore.

Amboyna, Timor, Java, Marianne Islands, Ceylon, Bengal
Assam, South Africa, Madagascar.

In the Malayan valleys and hills this small species is very numerous. It is of fierce habits, like several other Geckonidæ, destroying its own species. Its normal colour appears to be greyish, which it however has in its power to change. The largest individuals observed were of the following dimensions :

Length of the head,..

Ditto ditto trunk,..

Ditto ditto tail,

.

0ğ inch.
2

2

Entire length, 4 inches.

HEMIDACTYLUS PLATYURUS, (Schneider.)

Sides of the body and posterior margin of the thighs with a loose membrane; tail tapering, depressed, with sharp, fringed margins, with scuta beneath; toes webbed half their length; chin with 4 pentagonal broad scales, placed in pairs, behind each other: : 6 femoral pores placed on a continued line.

Young and Adult.-Above ash-coloured, in some with a greyish brown lateral band, from the muzzle continued to the tail; the latter with indistinct brownish transversal bands; others irregularly spotted and

*Specimens in the Museum of the Asiatic Society.

marbled with blackish brown; pupil and iris as in the preceding Whitish beneath.

species.

HABIT. Pinang.

Philippine Islands, Borneo, Java, Bengal, Assam.**

The individuals were observed in houses in the valley of Pinang. In a male the posterior half of the tail happens to be divided so as to appear double; one of the pieces, the continuation of the normal tail, is depressed, slightly fringed, and beneath with the row of scuta continued, the other is cylindrical, somewhat shorter, and above and below covered with minute scales. The largest individual was of the following dimensions :

Toes not widened into a disk, nor with dentilated margins; all five with non-retractile nails; fifth hind-toe versatile or capable of turning from the others under a right angle.

GYMNODACTYLUS pulchellus, (Gray.)

SYN.-Cyrtodactylus pulchellus, Gray.

Gonyodactylus pulchellus, Wagler.

Gymnodactylus pulchellus, Duméril and Bibron.

Head, back and limbs with numerous three-sided tubercles among the smaller flat scales; sides of the body with a longitudinal fold of the skin; the anterior upper part of the cylindrical tail with distant rings of rounded, pointed tubercles; beneath a row of scuta. Chin with six scales, the centre pair elongated pentagonal. Males with 36 femoral pores on two not connected lines, between which, in front of the anus, a short narrow, longitudinal furrow. Both sexes with 3 or 4 tubercles obliquely situated on each side of the root of the tail.

Young and Adult.-Above a rich brownish ochre; the nape of the neck and back with 6 broad transversal bands (the two anterior horseshoe shaped), of a rich velvety mulberry, or snuff-colour with sulphur Specimens in the Museum of the Asiatic Society.