shark. These "war educated" sharks will gradually be caught and oil, rich in vitamin A, will be extracted from their livers for the benefit of the community, and this infinitesimal risk to bathing will be removed.
The marine turtles are represented by the Green or Edible Turtle, the female of which comes ashore on some of the sandy beaches of the Colony regularly each summer to deposit her eggs, and by the Hawksbill or Tortoise-shell Turtle which may very rarely enter territorial waters.
No true tortoises are found here but there is one Large- headed Tortoise, to be recognized by its very long tail and powerfully hooked jaw. Six terrapins or freshwater tortoises occur in the district, of which the commonest is the Asiatic Box Terrapin with a patch of yellow on the top of the head and hence called by the Chinese kam tsin kwai, "gold coin terrapin." Young terrapins of this and other species are offered for sale at the time of the Chinese New Year. Adults are always obtainable in the Central Market and in village markets as they are esteemed as a delicacy by the Chinese epicure. Mud turtles also make good eating and are always to be seen in the markets. Two species occur in the Colony and may occasionally be seen in river or pond. They should be handled with care as they can easily remove a finger in one bite.
Lizards are quite well represented in the Colony. There is the Crested Lizard with a long tail that loves running up and down palm trees; the male can blush very effectively during the breeding season when suitably stimulated. Five species of geckoes or house lizards are known here; they lay their eggs, the size of peas, between loose bricks, behind the books in a bookcase or even amongst official documents. The skinks or smooth sand-lizards are well represented by ten species. The most beautiful is the Blue-tailed Skink with a brilliant blue tail with four green stripes; in the young the colour is more noticeable than in the adult. There is only one lizard typical of the only family represented in Britain; it is the Long-tailed Striped Lizard and lives on the grassy hillsides.
Frogs.
Seventeen kinds of frogs, toads and newts occur in the Colony including some very interesting species. There is one newt; living specimens have recently been sent by air mail to the London Zoo. It is black or dark brown and orange in colour and occurs in streams on the island and mainland. The Indian Toad is the only true toad but there are also two species of Spade-foot Toad; these latter live in shady woods on the hill- sides. Though adults are rarely seen their tadpoles are easily found, and are very distinctive as they have curious funnels in front of their mouths.
Eight species of frog occur including the remarkable floating frog which is thoroughly aquatic in habit and may remain floating on the surface of the water perhaps for hours. One tree-frog is abundant; it is usually brown with a curious
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