THE FRILLED LIZARD. 



85 



lower jaw and throat, and is prolonged so as to form an angular fold just before the shoulder. 

 A toothed crest runs along the back, but is barely one quarter the height of that which passes 

 over the nape, and the tail is long and compressed. The color of this Lizard is green, with 

 variable streaks and scribblings of black, and the legs are deeply banded. The Tiger Lizard 

 sometimes attains a length of three feet. 



THE Lizards of this family are remarkable for the extraordinary modifications of form 

 which they exhibit. In one species, such as the tiger Lizard, a row of long, spike-like scales 

 is raised upon the neck, in the dragons the skin of the sides is dilated to an enormous extent, 

 and even the ribs are drawn out like wire and turned out of their usual course to support the 

 membranous expansion, and in the FRILLED LIZARD the neck is furnished with a large, plaited 



FRILLED LIZARD. CMamydosaurus Hngii. 



membrane on each side, forming a most remarkable appendage to the animal without any 

 apparent object. 



The Frilled Lizard is a native of Australia, and, like most of the family, is generally found 

 on trees, which it can traverse with great address. It seems to be a bold and courageous animal, 

 trusting to its formidable teeth and generally ferocious aspect as a means of defence. " As we 

 were pursuing our walk in the afternoon," writes Captain Gray, "we fell in with a specimen 

 of the remarkable Frilled Lizard. It lives principally in trees, though it can run very swiftly 

 along the ground. When not provoked or disturbed, it moves quietly about, with its frill 

 lying back in plaits upon the body ; but it is very irascible, and directly it is frightened, it 

 elevates the frill or ruff, and makes for a tree, where, if overtaken, it throws itself upon its 

 stern, raising its head and chest as high as it can upon the fore-legs ; then, doubling its tail 

 underneath the body, and displaying a very formidable set of teeth from the concavity of its 

 large frill, it boldly faces an opponent, biting furiously whatever is presented to it, and even 

 venturing so far in its rage as to fairly make a charge at its enemy. 



