A ZOOLOGICAL ERROR 



there should be a type which has contracted the most 

 striking likeness to a chamaeleon. The agamoid 

 chamaeleon is Lyriocephalus scutatus, the iguanoid 

 mimic Chamceleolis. The latter has been an inmate of 

 the Reptile House but not the former. 



THE TEGUEXIN. 



The scientific name of this South American lizard, viz. 

 Tupinambis teguexin, is due to a curious error. The 

 traveller, Marcgrave, speaking of the lizard, remarked 

 that it is named Teyu-guaco, and, among the Topin- 

 ambos, Temapara ; after reading this, Seba, the collector 

 of " curiosities," jumped at the conclusion that what 

 Marcgrave meant by Topinambos was the name of the 

 lizard itself. The name got into zoology, and the rule 

 in zoology is a stern one as to priority ; so we must per- 

 force give to the lizard the name of the tribe, thus revers- 

 ing what sometimes happens when an Indian individual 

 or tribe is called by the name of an animal. The Teguex- 

 ins or Tupinambis are a group of lizards containing a vast 

 number of species all confined to America, and most of 

 them to South America. There are usually to be seen 

 at the Zoo examples of the two species, Tupinambis 

 teguexin and Tupinambis nigro-punctatus. They grow 

 to some size, and are bluish, variegated with yellow 

 marks. For some reason or other they have been con- 

 founded with the monitors of the Old World to which 

 they have not the very faintest structural resemblance. 

 In fact, no two groups of lizards are further apart than 

 these two. However, they both love the water, and are 

 somewhat fierce. In fact, the Tupinambis is said to 

 emulate the bull-dog in the tenacity with which it will 

 hold on to any aggressor. The name of " safeguard ' ' has 

 been applied to these lizards, on the supposition that 

 like the monitors they will warn of the proximity of a 

 crocodile. They are strong and swift, and lash out with 



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