116 



BRANCH VERTEBRATA. 



FIG. 200. 



Iff H a' nd tu her cu Id' la. Iguana. ( r ' B .) 



ORDER LACERTIL1A (la ser til'i a). 



The Lizards are generally provided with two pairs of 



limbs, and the eyes with movable lids, 

 while the mouth lacks the power of 

 distention, so characteristic of the pre- 

 vious order. External evidence of 

 ears is often exhibited by the 

 tympanic (tim pan' Ik) 

 membrane, as in frogs, or 

 by deep pits each side of 

 the head. With a single 

 exception, the Heloderma 

 (hel o der'ma), all are per- 

 fectly harmless.* 



The Iguanas (1 gwa'- 

 nas) are arboreal fruit-eating Lizards, found in the West 

 Indies and South America. They often reach a total 

 length of five feet, and are 

 much prized by the natives 

 as food. 



The " Chameleon " (ka- 

 rri e'le un) of our Southern 

 States is much smaller. It 

 is often seen sunning itself 

 on old fences, on the leaves 



Of the palmetto, etc. White An' oils pnn tip' a Us. Southern Chameleon. 



to show the marks of poison fangs, it should be sucked by a person whose mouth 

 and lips are without scratches, the poison being harmless if taken into the ali- 

 mentary tract. The wound should then be enlarged with a knife and again 

 sucked. A tight ligature should be placed between it and the heart, and alcoholic 

 drink administered, though not in large quantities. 



* Though bearing a superficial resemblance to many salamanders, the Lizards 

 are at once distinguished by their clawed toes, and, with a very few exceptions, 

 scaly skin. 



Pis. 201. 



