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NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family XXIY. Agamulre. 

 DRACO. (Lat. a Dragon.) 



Volans (Lat. fyig\ the Flying Dragon. 



The terrible name of FLYING DRAGON belongs to a harm- 

 less little lizard, bearing small resemblance to the terrific ani- 

 mal so graphically depicted by Retsch. This curious little 

 lizard lives on trees, and feeds on insects instead of devouring 

 pilgrims bound to the Gnadenbildc. The peculiar structure of 

 its body bears a singular resemblance to that of the flying 

 squirrel. The first six false ribs are greatly elongated, and 

 support a wing-like expansion of skin, which when stretched 

 serves to bear them up as they skim through the air from one 

 tree to another. "While running about on the branches, the 

 so-called wings are folded to the side, but when it wishes to 

 throw itself from the tree, the ribs are raised, and the wings 

 expanded. It is common in Java, India, and Borneo. 



THE CHAMELEON. 



The COMMON CHAMELEON is plentifully found in northern 

 Africa, the south of Spain, and Sicily. It lives on trees, but 

 exhibits none of the activity usually found in arboreal reptiles. 

 On the contrary, its movements are absurdly grave and sol- 

 emn. The whole activity of the animal seems to be centered 

 in its tongue, by means of which organ it secures flies and 



