142 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



of rock, were constructed to stalk about on their power- 

 ful hind legs. 



Leaving the iguanas we come to a number of miscel- 

 laneous genera. While each is distinctly different from 

 another, they naturally fall into a step-like arrange- 

 ment, carrying us forward in the classification. If un- 

 ceremoniously mixed up they would appear as a most 

 incongruous assortment. First in order is Sauromalus, 

 a genus restricted to the southwestern portion of the 

 United States and containing two species. One is well 

 known in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, 

 where it is called the Chucka walla or Chuck-Walla, 

 the name being of Indian origin ; technically it is recog- 

 nized as Sauromalus ater. It is a fat-bodied lizard with 

 a thick, stumpy tail, strongly suggestive of the Mas- 

 tigures of the Agamidce; the tail, however, is quite de- 

 void of spines. A big specimen is about a foot and a 

 half long. The color is uniform dull rusty brown. 

 Young specimens are banded or marbled. 



At its best gait the Chuckawalla gets over the ground 

 at hardly more than a rapid waddle ; the young specimens 

 are speedy enough. The food consists largely of flow- 

 ers and very tender leaves. Captive specimens are in- 

 different to food unless kept in what is to a human an 

 almost unendurable temperature. If the heat of their 

 native deserts is not thus imitated they become sluggish, 

 lying with eyes half closed, slowly starving to death. 



Genus Crotaphytus. Several pretty and active spe- 

 cies are found in the western portions of the United 

 States, living in open, sterile places. The Collared 

 Lizard, C. collaris, exhibits a striking coloration, par- 

 ticularly during the breeding season. Then the male is 

 rich green, profusely dotted with pale yellow spots ; on 

 the neck is a double sooty black collar; as completing 



