2476 SCALED REPTILES 



minute scales. The cylindrical body is slender and of nearly equal thickness 

 throughout, the scales on its upper surface, as in that of the long tail, being keeled. 

 Larger in males than in females, the limbs have rounded extremities, and are 

 enveloped in overlapping scales. In general color, this lizard is coppery gray 

 above, sometimes marked with three or five longitudinal rows of blackish dots or 

 elongate spots; the under parts being marbled gray, with the exception of the 

 throat, which is white. Found both in Australia and Tasmania, and by no means 

 uncommon in the warmer northern parts of Victoria, this lizard, like its kin, is 

 stated to have habits very similar to those of the blind worm, although accurate 

 observations on its mode of life are wanting. 



THE AGAMOID LIZARDS 

 Family 



The southern and eastern portions of the Old World are the home of a very 

 extensive family of lizards, comprising thirty genera and over two hundred species, 

 which may be conveniently termed agamoids, from the name of the typical genus. 

 Agreeing with the preceding families in the characteristics of the tongue, and in 

 the absence of bony plates beneath the scales, the agamoids resemble the scale-foots 

 in the characteristics of their collar bones; but are distinguished from all their allies 

 having teeth of the acrodont type, that is to say, situated on the very summit of 

 the edges of the jaws. While the head is covered with small scales, the small 

 eyes have circular pupils and well-developed movable eyelids, and the scales on the 

 back are of the normal overlapping type. The thick tongue is either completely 

 attached or only slightly free in front, and. at most, has but a very shallow notch 

 in its tip. The teeth may be generally divided into three series, comparable as 

 regards position with the incisors, tusks, and molars of mammals; the latter being 

 more or less compressed, and frequently furnished with three cusps, while the tusks, 

 which may be one or two in number on each side, are of relatively-large size in 

 most cases, although occasionally absent. The fore-limbs are always well devel- 

 oped, and, except in one genus, five toed. The absence of large symmetrical horny 

 shields, both on the head and under parts, is a noteworthy character of these liz- 

 ards, many of which develop, either in the males or in both sexes, ornamental ap- 

 pendages, such as crests or pouches. As a rule, the tail is long and not brittle, 

 but in only one genus is it prehensile, although in another it can be curled up at 

 the extremity. The shape of the body is very variable in the different genera, the 

 terrestrial forms being generally depressed, while those that are arboreal in their 

 habits are compressed. Although the majority of the species are insectivorous, 

 some subsist on leaves and fruits, while others prefer a mixed diet; but neither the 

 nature of their habitat nor their food serve to classify the agamoids, many of the 

 genera of which are very difficult to distinguish. The majority of the species ap- 

 pear to lay eggs, only the members of a single genus being reported to give birth to 

 living young. As regards distribution, agamoids are found from the south of 



