Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles. 



arched backwards, and extending along- the sides of the parotoids behind the ear, 

 not extending quite across the back of neck ; along each side from over the shoulder 

 is a row of very long, sharp, backward-arched spines, like those of the beard; 

 back without median, longitudinal ridge, but with numerous conical spines, shorter 

 than those of the flanks or beard, and more upright on the base, irregularly arranged 

 in bands extending obliquely backwards and outwards ; similar spinose scales form 

 several irregular, transverse rows on basal portions of tail with rhomboidal scales, 

 larger than the small ones of the back, each with a very strong median keel forming 

 continuous longitudinal ridges; upper surface of arms and thighs rough, with large 

 spinous scales ; a transverse group of spinous scales over the shoulder ; belly with 

 smooth and more uniformly regular rhomboidal scales, less strongly keeled longi- 

 tudinally. Legs and toes short; hind limb reaching to shoulder if drawn up. 

 Femoral pores about 7 to 9 on each thigh, forming an irregular line continued from 

 side to side by 8 to 10 preanal pores. Tail round, depressed at base, nearly twice as 

 long as head and body. Color : Sordid brownish-grey above, with the transverse 

 rows of spines lighter, forming narrow, irregular, transverse, indistinct lighter bands; 

 tail crossed by a variable number of narrow, light bands, 1 or 2 scales wide, separated 

 by darker spaces, 6 or 7 scales wide ; arms and legs also with narrow, irregular, 

 variable, lighter bands ; a blackish spot on side of neck from behind ear ; belly 

 lighter and more uniform, with large, oval, lighter yellowish spots with dark brown, 

 narrow, irregular, imperfect margins ; claws yellow on sides, dark above ; inside of 

 mouth and tongue yellow ; iris dark brown. Dimensions of moderate specimen : — 

 Total length, 1 ft. 5h ins.; length of head, 2 ins. ; width of head, 2 ins. 3 lines ; tip 

 of snout to base of tail, 9 ins. ; tip of snout to nostril, 5 lines ; tip of snout to 

 anterior edge of orbit, 9 lines ; tip of snout to ear, 1 in. 9 lines ; arm, 1 in. 4 lines ; 

 fore-arm, 1 in.; free part of longest toe, 8 lines; thigh, 1 in. 6 lines ; leg, 1 in. 3 lines; 

 free part of longest hind toe, 8 lines. 



Reference. — Kaup, Isis, 1827, p. 621 ; Gray, Zool. E. and T. Rept. 1. 18, f. 1 

 (young). 



This is commonly called the Jew Lizard by colonists, and is 

 easily distinguished by the beard-like growth of long, slender 

 spines round the throat and parotoids, the form of which below, 

 in the adult, is shown in the woodcut, and the similar band along 

 the sides, as well as by the absence of any median keel along the 

 back. Some si:>ecimens have the throat black. 



When irritated, it inflates the body to a considerably increased 

 size, and hisses like a snake, exciting alarm ; but rarely biting. 

 The eggs are usually 8 or 10, connected by membrane in a row. 



I observe great difference in the acuteness or flatness of the 

 plates of the head and of the large thorn-like scales of the body in 

 different specimens, and the relative size of the rostral and mental 

 plates at tip of snout. The throat has very generally a broad, 

 black, transverse band where the beard-like scales grow, but this 

 is sometimes absent. A few specimens have the belly pale and 



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