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Show 1896.] ON A NEW GECKO FROM PENANG. 767 8. On a new Gecko from Penaug. By G. A. BOULENGER, F.R.S. [Eeceived June 16, 1896.] (Plate XXXVI.) Among some Keptiles and Batrachians collected on Penang bill (at 2200 feet altitude) by Mr. Stanley Flower, and presented by bim to the Natural History Museum, there was a new Gecko of particular interest. At a first glance it appears to be a Ptychozoon, that curious form of parachute-bearing Geckos of which we now know two species from South-eastern Asia, viz., P. homalocephalum, Crev., and P. horsfieldi, Gray. But this resemblance is merely a case of convergence, :or whilst Ptgchozoon is a modified form of Oedco, the new lizard is clearly derived from Hemidactglus. The gap between the species referred to Gecko and those on which Ptgchozoon is based is so considerable, that the latter genus has been universally accepted by modern herpetologists. But in the present case the matter is not quite so simple; for we have long been acquainted with a species of Hemidactglus,-H. platg-urus, Schn.,-which, by the presence of a well-developed fold along the side, foreshadows the development of the parachute of Ptychozoon; however, the scaling on these membranes does not show any modification, and therefore I have thought it fit to found a new genus for the species described below, which differs in the brick-like enlarged scales covering the side-membranes, as well as in the greater development of these membranes and the fuller web between the digits. If Ptychozoon deserves to stand as distinct from Geclco, it would be illogical not to allow the same rank to the new Penang Lizard. I therefore propose to name it Mimetozoon fioweri. MIMETOZOON, gen. nov. Digits extensively webbed, strongly dilated, with two rows of lamellae beneath ; the two distal phalanges compressed and slender, rising from within the extremity of the dilated portion ; all the digits clawed. Limbs and sides of head, body, and tail with much-developed dermal expansions. Upper surfaces covered with juxtaposed granular scales and tubercles, the parachute-membrane covered above with imbricate tetragonal scales arranged like bricks. Pupil vertical. MIMETOZOON FLOWERI, sp. nov. (Plate XXXVI.) Head slightly distinct from neck; snout obtusely pointed, much longer than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, once and a half the diameter of the orbit; forehead concave ; ear-opening oval, horizontal. Body and limbs much depressed; digits short, two-thirds webbed, inner short; five lamellse under PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1896, No. L. 50 |