Kanguroo rat.

The upper jaw of this species has two cutting teeth in front, with three others on each side of them, and at a distance one false grinder, sharp at the edge, and channelled, or fluted, on the sides, and close to these, two true grinders:  in the lower jaw are two long cutting teeth, formed like those of the squirrel, with three grinders, corresponding with those in the upper jaw.

The general shape of the body is not widely different from that of the Kanguroo, both in respect to the shortness of the fore legs and the peculiar construction of the hind ones; but the visage being strongly similar to that of the rat, and the colour of the whole not ill resembling that animal, it has obtained the name of the Kanguroo Rat.

This is an inhabitant of New Holland, and two of the species are now to be seen alive at the curious exhibition of animals over Exeter Exchange.  One of these, being a female, has brought forth young, one of which is represented in the same plate with the adult animal.  On the upper part of the same plate is figured the jaw of a full grown subject.

Genus CXXII.  Lacerta.—­Lin.  Sist.  Nat.

The laced lizard.

This most elegant species is in length, from the nose to the end of the tail, about forty inches:  in the mouth are a few weak teeth, though rather sharp, at about a quarter of an inch distance one from another:  the tongue is long and forked:  the general shape is slender; and the ground colour of the skin, on the upper parts, a brownish or bluish black, whimsically marked with golden yellow; in some parts this colour is beautifully mottled or freckled, like some kinds of lace-work; in others, striped in various directions, particularly on the legs, which seem as if striped across with black and white:  the under parts are yellow, crossed with single bars of black on the chin and throat, and double clouded ones on the belly:  the toes are five in number on each foot, barred across with black and yellow, as the legs, and each furnished with a crooked black claw:  the tail measures more in length than the whole of the body; towards the base, clouded and marked as the rest; but the further half banded with black and yellow, each band three inches broad, the end running to a very sharp point.

This beautiful Lizard is not uncommon at Port Jackson, where it is reputed a harmless species.  Individuals vary much one from another, in respect to the length of the tail, as also in the colour of the markings; some having those parts marked with a pure silvery white, which in the above described are yellow.

Genus CXXXV.  Balistes.—­Lin.  Syst.  Nat.

Bag-throated Balistes.