SAGRA'S DIPLOGLOSSVS, OR DOUBLE-TONGUED LIZARD. 67 



no trace of the inverted V. On the sides of the head, the mottlings of gray and black are 

 very bold, and round the neck runs a collar of black. This mark, however, may have been 

 caused by the stupidity of the captor, who was so frightened at the contortions of the reptile, 

 that he tied a- string round its neck to form a safe handle with which to carry it. 



Mr. Bell, in his volume on reptiles, states that the tail is obtuse, but that it rather varies 

 in length, in some cases being not more than half the length of the body, while in others 

 it nearly equals the head and body together. In my own specimen, the tail is by no means 

 obtuse, but very slender and well pointed, and can be so tightly curled at its extremity as not 

 to be removable without damage to the creature. While held in the hand, it generally twists 

 the tip of the tail firmly round one of the fingers, not in a spiral position, but so as to make 

 one complete circle, the extremity of the tail just touching the spot where the circle com- 

 mences. The total length of this specimen now lying flat against a two-foot rule, towards 

 which I have just succeeded in coaxing it by a judicious arrangement of light and shade, and 

 an occasional touch with the finger, is thirteen inches and a half. The body and head occupy 

 precisely six inches, and the remaining seven inches and a half are given to the tail. The spot 

 where the body ends and the tail begins is very evident, the diameter of the body diminishing 

 slightly but suddenly. 



THE family of the Skinks contains so many interesting creatures, that it is difficult to make 

 a satisfactory selection, and impossible to avoid a feeling of regret at the necessity for passing 

 so many species without even a cursory notice. Before, however, proceeding to the next 

 family, -we must give a short notice of one or two rather conspicuous species. 



The first is the SPINE-BACKED LIZARD of New Guinea (Tribolonotus novas guinea), a very 

 remarkable crea,ture, notable for the singular formation of the scales which cover the back, and 

 in allusion to which the creature has been placed under the generic name Tribolonotus. This 

 long word is of Greek origin, signifying calthrop-backed calthrops being certain horrible 

 instruments thrown on the ground to check the advance of cavalry, and consisting of four iron 

 spikes, set round a ball in such a manner, that when flung on the gronnd, three points rest on 

 the earth, and the other projects perpendicularly into the air. 



Though really harmless, the Spine-backed Lizard is a most formidable looking creature, 

 the whole of the back being covered with long and sharply pointed spikes, formed by a modi- 

 fication of the scales, that project boldly in all directions, and fully justify the generic name. 

 Even on the tail the scales, which are arranged in whorls, are long, pointed, and project 

 over each other, so as to give a very formidable aspect to this member. Even the head is 

 armed with these pointed scales, which become larger and larger as they approach the neck. 

 The color of this Lizard is brown above, and grayish-white below. 



ANOTHER notable member of this family is the well-known GALLIWASP (Celestus 

 ocdduus). 



This reptile is a native of the West Indian Islands, and is very common in Jamaica, where 

 it is held in great, but groundless dread, by the inhabitants, and especially by the negroes. 

 It generally haunts damp situations, and is mostly found in marshy lands, near water, or 

 hidden under rocks where moisture is retained by the nature of the ground, It is thought 

 that when the Galliwasp is irritated, its bite is as venomous as that of a poisonous snake, and 

 causes immediate death. On account of the dread in which it is held, the negroes call it by 

 the name of Mabouya, in common with the reptile which has already been described on 

 page 62. 



The color of the Galliwasp is brown of various tones, diversified with cross bands of black- 

 ish brown. It is about one foot in length, There are several species belonging to this genus, 

 all being found in Jamaica. 



THE last example of the Skinks which can be mentioned in these pages is SAGRA'S DIPLO- 

 GLOSSUS, or DOUBLE-TONGUED LIZARD. 



This reptile is a native of Cuba, and is found in localities where the air is cool, and the 



