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Show 296 DR. GUNTHER ON THE FAUNA OF SAVAGE ISLAND. [May 5, with this species, the typical specimens of which had been collected in Tongatabu. But the dentition of our example does not agree with the figure given by the French naturalists, which, however, does not seem to be sufficiently accurate for the purpose of specific identification. Peters places Pt. tonganus as a doubtful synonym under Pteropus keraudrenii. As I shall have before long well authenticated examples of the latter for comparison, I shall, perhaps, be able to throw more light on this problematical species. Of Reptiles the following were in the collection :- 1. ABLEPHARUS PODCILOPLEURUS, Wiegm. It appears to me that recent authors (more especially Strauch in his monograph of this genus) have confounded two species under the names A. boutonii and A. peronii. In the Mauritian species, for which the name boutonii must be retained, the posterior frontals are scarcely in contact with each other, the vertical almost touching the praefrontal. In specimens from Australia, the islands of the Pacific, and eastern portion of the Indian Ocean, the posterior frontals form together a broad suture, as has been already represented by Wiegmann and Cocteau. The oldest name for this form is Ablepharus poecilopleurus, Wiegm. I have been able to convince myself of the constancy of this character, having examined 10 specimens from the Mauritius, and, of the Pacific species, 5 examples from the Sandwich Islands, 2 from Savage Island, 1 from Aneiteum, 4 from North Australia, 16 from Western Australia, and 3 from Timor*. 2. GEHYRA OCEANICA, Less. 3. MABOUIA BAUDINII, D. & B. This appears to be the most common species of the island, the late Mr. Brenchley having collected numerous examples. Other localities from which we have received this species are New Guinea and San Christoval (Solomon Islands). * I append here the description of another new species in the British Museum :- A B L E P H A R U S QUINQUEI\ENIATUS. This species belongs to the division Cryptoblepharus, and is allied to C. poecilopleurus, but m a y be readily recognized by its coloration. The upper and lateral parts are deep black, with five well-defined narrow white lines-one along the median line of the back, one from each superciliary along the side of the back, the outermost from the infraocular through the tympanum to the loin. O n the tail the median line has disappeared, and the others are continued as zizgag lines or series of spots. Lower parts greenish. The eye is surrounded by a complete circle of granules ; postfrontals united by a broad suture ; central occipital confluent with anterior occipitals. Dorsal scales very broad, in four series. Body surrounded by 24 series of scales; 63 scales in a longitudinal series between chin and vent. T w o large prasanal scales. Toes very slender. Two specimens (of the ordinary size of a C. poecilopleurus, and perfectly alike in every respect) were presented to the British Museum by Capt. Parry, and are said to be from the west coast of Africa. |
