OUTLINES AND KEYS 165 



which are the beautiful tree-lizards, fljing dragons, 

 Moloch Spring lizard, etc. 



The Iguanidce have interesting Old World mem- 

 bers, but in South America there are the sea-lizards 

 around the Galapagos Islands which are large vegeta- 

 ble feedei*s and peculiarly interesting. Our so-called 

 chameleon {Anolis\ the frilled lizard, and our horned 

 toad are all in this family. 



The family now known as Anguidce — holding the 

 blindworms — was formerly put with the skinks. It 

 contains our so-called jointed -snakes. 



The family known as YaranidcB contains the moni- 

 tors — the largest of true living lizards. They are 

 Asiatic, and some have extremely long tails which 

 with the body measure nearly eight feet. They use 

 the tail as a lash and strike a painful blow with it, 

 and they fight viciously otherwise. Some ai-e aquatic. 



The Teiidce are called greaved lizards because 

 the head is covered with scales arranged after the 

 manner of the old greaved armor. There are some 

 of these in the United States. 



The Amphisbcenidi2 have been noted for their 

 burrowing habits, snakelike, limbless bodies, and their 

 ability to go backward as well as forward. 



The Lacertldce hold the usual Old World lizards, 

 whose tails come off and regrows so easily. 



The Scincidce, or skinks proper, are widely spread 

 over all the continents. We have some. Our blue- 

 tailed lizard and c^round lizard belono; here. Some 

 in the Old World have only two legs and some 

 none. 



