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Show 410 MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE REPTILES. [Julie 9, the colder seas of the China coast. During the years I spent at Amoy I never heard of a Turtle being captured but once; this was in October 1859. It was a large old specimen of this species, of a yellowish madder-colour. I wanted to buy it to preserve ; but nothing would induce the fishermen to sell it for this purpose. They said a Turtle never appears on the China coast except when some great calamity is imminent, and to avert this good men must deliver it from its captors and set it free. A Chinese firm in the town volunteered to do the good act. They purchased the Turtle, had Chinese characters cut on its back, signifying "set free for ever," which were filled in with vermilion, and, decking it with ribbons, took it in a boat in great state, with drums beating, to the outer limits of the harbour, where it was dropped into the sea. They said that if caught again the inscription on its back would protect it from meeting with further rough treatment. The Turtle is with the Chinese an emblem of longevity. • 3. CROCODILUS, sp.? In February 1869 some Chinese were exhibiting in the native city of Shanghai what they called a Dragon, which they declared had been dug out of a hole in the province of Shense. It was a young Crocodile about 4 feet long, which they kept in tepid water. They made so much money by showing it that they refused to sell it. I cannot, of course, guess its species; but I nevertheless think the fact worth recording, as evidence that a species of this group does occur in China. 4. TACHYDROMUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Giinth. I.e. p. 70. One specimen caught on the top of the city wall of Nanking. The Museum has specimens from Ningpo. It is a ground-Lizard, hiding under stones. 5. EREMIAS ARGUS (Peters). Very common in the cultivated fields about Peking. The Museum has specimens procured by m e in 1860; but mention of these was omitted when the Society was made acquainted with the specimens collected by m e during the North-China campaign (see P. Z. S. 1861, p. 391). 6. MABOUIA CHINENSIS (Gray), Gunth. I.e. p. 83. Specimens from the Pescadores. Very common about the millet-fields of the largest Pescadore Island. A small race, and much spotted with black. 7. EUMECES MODESTUS, Giinth. I. c. p. 87. Found on the rocky bank of the Yangtsze river in a gorge in eastern Szechuen, 1300 miles from the sea. Before known only from Ningpo. |
