238 CHAMELEONS. AGAMIANS. 



those of the intermaxillary ; these are succeeded by five or six coni- 

 cal teeth, and the rest correspond in size and form with the tubercu- 

 late molars of the upper jaw. 



All the teeth are attached, after the pleurodont type, by their 

 base and outer margin to shallow depressions on the outer side of the 

 external alveolar parapet. 



The germs of the successional teeth (b b, fig. 7) , are developed 

 at the inner side of the base of their predecessors, which they exca- 

 vate, undermine, and displace in the usual manner. 



I have not seen any specimens of this genus which had the 

 branches of the lower jaw anchylosed at the symphysis. The ptery- 

 goid bones present a rugous surface at the place where they ordinarily 

 support teeth. 



CHAMELEONS. 



99. The dental system, though by no means formida- 

 ble, in the Chameleons, indicates a more substantial diet than the 

 poets have assigned to these singular reptiles. 



The teeth are conical, compressed, trenchant, with the summit 

 simple or terminating in three points, arranged in the same longitu- 

 dinal line : in most species the teeth gradually increase in size, and 

 become wider apart as they are situated farther back upon the jaws. 

 The teeth in place are so completely confluent with the alveolar plate 

 as to appear, externally, to be mere processes of that border of the 

 jaw ; but their true nature is evident, when viewed from the inner side 

 of the jaw. 



The common Chameleon {Ch. vulgaris), has eighteen or nine- 

 teen teeth on each side of both jaws : and the five posterior ones have 

 a tricuspid crown. 



The two-horned Chameleon {Ch. bifurcus, PI. 66, fig. 3), has 

 about sixteen teeth on each side of both jaws, and they offer a 

 marked disparity of size at the two extremes of each series : figure 3, 

 gives a magnified view of one of the middle teeth, showing the mode 

 in which it is anchylosed to the alveolar plate, and the contour of the 

 transverse section of its base. 



AGAMIANS. 



100. The Agamoid Lizards, which are grouped together under the 



