Fiji's "Rare" Lizard Not

So Rare

Letter to the Editor 1WAS interested in the short article on page 78 of your December issue, regarding the Pacific iguana. This lizard is anything but rare, being found quite close to Suva, and a small reward will always bring a “vokai” in a short time. Besides being abundant on Viti Levu and Taveuni (I have not seen one on Vanua Levu), it also occurs on the small islands in Lau and extends, as you state, into Tonga.

Anyone interested in its exact distribu tion in Fiji should consult a paper by the Burts, published by, I think, the Chicago or Washington museum, where details of the localities from which their specimens were taken are listed. Publi cation was in the middle thirties, I think.

The specific name is fasciatus — not fusciatus — given in allusion to the bands encircling its body. This lizard is well known to planters in Fiji and is popu larly called the chameleon, as it under goes a slight colour change, according to its immediate surroundings.

One or two that I dissected had leaves and leaf remains in the stomach, and a new species of round worm in the in testine.

I am, etc.,

Malaya, Feb. 18.

R. A. Lever.