122 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



stout, rather flattened body, a blunt head and a mod- 

 erately long tail. There is a fleshy fold across the 

 throat. 



Agama stellio is called Hardim by the Arabs. It is 

 the most abundant species of its genus in Egypt, Asia 

 Minor and southwestern Europe and characterized by 

 the fleshy folds on the sides of the neck, these thickly 

 studded with spiny scales. There are also close-set rows 

 of spiny scales across the back. An adult specimen is 

 about fourteen inches long and its colors are not attrac- 

 tive, being olive, brown or grayish above, clouded with 

 black. The colors vary according to light and tem- 

 perature. This is an exceedingly active lizard, haunting 

 ancient ruins or rocky places and scampering here and 

 there at a speed causing it to look like a mere streak 

 to the human eye. Owing to a habit seen among lizards 

 of many families the reptile has incurred the hatred of 

 the more pious Mohammedans ; for often when a lizard 

 is disturbed, it runs for a short distance, stops suddenly, 

 then nods its head downward a number of times as if 

 going through a mock prayer. The Mohammedans 

 consider this to be a travesty on their methods of devo- 

 tion, killing every lizard they can catch. Thanks to the 

 reptile's agility, they are in no danger of immediate ex- 

 termination. 



Captive examples must be kept very dry, warm and 

 accessible to the sunlight for several hours daily. They 

 are particularly fond of meal worms, learning to take 

 these from one's fingers. 



Leaving the stout little Agamas, our search for strik- 

 ing types brings us to a species of really sensational 

 development and dramatic actions. The Frilled Liz- 

 ard, Chlamydosaurus hingi, found in Queensland, in 

 fact generally over northern Australia. There is no 



