66 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



white, grey, or light or dark brown, according to circum- 

 stances. At a very high or low temperature, heat is the 

 controlling factor, the lizards at a temperature of below 60° 

 being almost invariably green in colour, while at a tem- 

 perature of over 80°, dark brown, irrespective of illumina- 

 tion. At intermediate temperatures, however, light and 

 dark influence the changes, as they become green when in 

 the shade, dark brown when basking in the rays of the sun. 

 According to Holbrook, the males seldom meet without a 

 furious battle, resulting in the loss of a tail, or other 

 injuries to one or both of the combatants. Before spring- 

 ing at its enemy the creature remains perfectly still for a 

 short interval, nodding its head many times in succession 

 and distending its dewlap, which becomes of a bright 

 vermilion. 



These active little lizards become very tame in captivity, 

 feed from the hand, and, in fact, seem to lose all fear of 

 man. Their cage should be provided with foliage, and 

 sprinkled daily, as they will seldom drink out of a bowl, 

 preferring to lap up the drops which have settled on the 

 leaves. 



Basiliscus, containing four species, restricted to Tropical 

 America, are semi-aquatic forms, remarkable, especially 

 in the males, for the very high crests on their heads, 

 backs, and tails, which are covered with scales, and, in the 

 case of the dorsal and caudal crests, are supported by 

 spinous processes of the vertebral column. 



According to Gadow they frequent the low branches of 

 trees, especially of those overhanging streams, into which 

 they dive on being alarmed. The high dorsal and caudal 

 crests have often been said to act as a sail when the 



