172 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



) b, II 



, f.Z. S. 



BEARDED LIZARD 



JVilh in heard-like throac-membrane fully expanded 



Fh„o H K: Sai;IU.K,nl, F.Z.S 1 [A/.l/.r,.'....- S.j 



AUSTRALIAN JEW OR BEARDED LIZARDS 



TAe scales of the bearded lizard are exceedingly rough and sharp, somenmes cutting tit skin 

 of those ivho handle them incautiously 



lound it in considerable numbers on the shores of the 

 islands which constitute the Galapagos group. The lizards 

 were obser\ed to spend niuch of their time swimming in 

 the sea, but at no very great distance from the land. Experi- 

 ments proved that they could live for a very considerable 

 interval entirely submerged, examples sunk with weights for 

 as much as an hour emerging entirely unaftected from the 

 ordeal. 



While the Iguanas may be described as essentiall\- 

 American, one or two exceptional forms are found inhabiting 

 the relatively remote regions of the Fiji Islands and Mada- 

 gascar. The so-called Fiji Banded Ic.UANA (photographs of 

 a pair of which, once in the writer's possession, are reproduced 

 on page 575) is a very beautiful creature. The body is 

 shapely and well proportioned, and terminates in a tail of 

 abnormal length — equal to quite twice that of the body — 

 the entire dimensions measuring some 3 feet. The male is 

 much more bright in hue than the female; for while the 

 latter is usually of a uniform light green throughout, the 

 male is variegated, with broad, alternating bands of brightest 



species, attain to a considerable 

 length, 5 or 6 feet; their bodies 

 are proportionably thick, and the 

 white flesh, in this last-named 

 variet}- more particularly, is highly 

 esteemed as a table delicacy. The 

 common Tl'BERCUI.ated Iguana 

 is an essentiall)' handsome species, 

 its skin being variegated with 

 bands and shadings of brown and 

 green, which are lightest and 

 brightest in the males and }-ounger 

 individuals; the neck and snout 

 and jaws are decorated with pro- 

 jecting, rounded tubercles ; a large, 

 bagg_\', dewlap-like membrane, 

 capable of inflation at the animal's 

 will, depends from the chin anti 

 throat ; and a deeply serrated crest 

 of elevated scales extends from 

 behind the head, down the centre 

 of the back, nearl\- to the extremity 

 of the tail. 



The Iguana I'amily includes 

 a species with essentially marine 

 proclivities, this being the G.AL.V 

 pagos Sea-lizard. This animal 

 was first discovered to science by 

 the late Mr. Charles Darwin, who 



rnolo fly W, ^uVtLit-hint, t.^ i. 



A YOUNG BEARDED LIZARD 



Shoiving iti habitual sleeping attitude 



