132 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



America. The males are peculiar in having a high crest 

 on the back and tail, or a unique, comb-like protuberance 

 on the back of the head. B. americanus is the largest 

 species, reaching the length of about a yard, though 

 much of this is taken up by the greatly elongated tail. 

 The crest on the back is supported by bony rays and 

 is often as high as the body; it is covered with large, 

 very thin scales. The caudal crest is equally decorative, 

 appearing almost like some paper adornment. On the 

 head is a hood-shaped crest. B. plumifrons has high 

 crests like the former, but is distinguished by the divided 

 head crest, the forward portion of which is low, while 

 the posterior portion is greatly developed. B. ameri- 

 canus ranges from southern Mexico well through Cen- 

 tral America. The allied species seems to be restricted 

 to Costa Rica. Both live in trees, often along river 

 banks. They are wonderful climbers and jumpers, and 

 frequently, when alarmed, dive from an overhead bough 

 into the water. 



The Banded Basilisk, B. vittatus, found from trop- 

 ical Mexico to Ecuador, reaches a length of two feet. 

 It is olive brown with a wide, vivid yellow band on each 

 side of the body. With this species the crest on the 

 back is reduced to a mere bony ridge, though the head 

 is adorned with a greatly developed crest like the comb 

 of a fine rooster. 



The writer has kept a number of specimens. Their 

 tails were enormously long and whip-like, while the hind 

 legs looked quite out of proportion in their powerful 

 development, actually causing the specimens to squat, 

 at times, like frogs. Verily, the Basilisk is an animal of 

 mixed gaits! It can make its way through thick vege- 

 tation with a series of hops and leaps, much like the 

 Anoles. And these appear to be its normal actions, 



