The Plated Lizards and Snake-like Species 



demonstrate the close relationship of these lizards to the serpent- 

 like — limbless species. 



All of the species of Gerrhonoius are provided with a well- 

 developed and thick tongue, forked at the tip. When progress- 

 ing—if not frightened, and hurriedly seeking shelter — the tongue 

 is frequently protruded, generally to touch lightly the surface 

 over which the creature crawls. After eating, the lizard em- 

 ploys the tongue vigorously to wipe the lips, and even though 

 the prey be a small beetle, that has been swallowed practically 

 entire, the same elaborate proceedings follows. The food con- 

 sists mostly of insects, such as grubs, and the slower-crawling 

 kinds. Captive specimens are very fond of mealworms. Oc- 

 casional specimens are cannibalistic, devouring small lizards 

 of other species, that may be placed in their cage. 



The Plated Lizards evince the habit of parting with their 

 tails upon the slightest provocation. Captive specimens with 

 perfect tails are rather in the minority. Although many lizards 

 will suddenly part with the tail by twisting themselves from one's 

 grasp and leave the greater part of the caudal appendage writh- 

 ing violently, to engross the enemy's attention, while the crea- 

 ture scampers off, the species of the present genus appear to be 

 able to discard the tail voluntarily by a sudden throw of the 

 appendage, as they are pursued and running for shelter. The 

 abandoned tail twists, wriggles and undergoes such lively move- 

 ments that if cast off in dried leaves or grass would cause enough 

 commotion to cause the pursuer to stop and investigate it. Thus 

 the tail may be said to play the part of a decoy in retarding the 

 progress of the enemy. At the part where it has broken from 

 the base, the cast-ofT portion looks remarkable, as it displays 

 protruding, swollen filaments of flesh, these spreading from the 

 member like the petals of a flower. If the lizard be examined, 

 the stump of the tail will be found to contain cavities to represent 

 these protuberances. 



One might be led to imagine that the broken portions of 

 the tail could be fitted together, but close investigation will show 

 that the petal-like filaments are swollen in proportion to their 

 original bases as is a champagne cork to the mouth of the bottle. 

 The operation of shedding the tail is a bloodless one. Some 

 weeks after the tail has been lost, a new member starts to 

 grow slowly, appearing in abrupt, pointed fashion from the 



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