118 SAURIA. VARANID.^. 



The scales of the back are small, angular, 

 smooth, not overlapping, disposed in transverse 

 bands ; those of the belly are flat, four-sided, 

 longer than broad. The tail is rounded, but 

 somev^^hat four-sided, a little compressed towards 

 the tip. The skin of the throat and breast forms 

 two or three transverse folds. There are femoral 

 pores. The head is covered with large plates 

 or shields : the palate is destitute of teeth ; those 

 of the jaw are notched at the summit ; the tongue 

 is very long, capable of great protrusion, sheathed 

 at the base, and divided at the tip into two long 

 and slender filaments. 



The Sauvegardes are- Lizards of imposing 

 appearance ; they are stoutly built, and richly 

 coloured ; being marked with spots of rich yellow 

 on deep black, or vice versa. 



These Lizards are natives of the tropical 

 parts of America. They attain a considerable 

 size, frequently measuring four or five feet in 

 length. According to MM. Dumeril and Bibron, 

 they generally inhabit the fields and borders of 

 woods, but never climb trees; they appear also 

 to frequent sandy arid tracts, and it is said they 

 excavate burrows, in which they lay themselves 

 up for the winter. Sometimes, in their efforts to 

 elude pursuit, they come upon a lake, pond, or 

 river, when, as we are informed by D'Azara, 

 in order to avoid the danger that menaces them, 

 they plunge in and do not leave the w^ater till 

 all fear of harm is past. These Lizards have not 

 indeed webbed feet, as MM. Dumeril and Bibron 

 observe, but under these circumstances their long 

 and compressed tail becomes without doubt a 

 sort of oar, which w^ell answers their purpose. 



