2486 



SCALED REPTILES 



by the settlers the spiny lizard or thorny devil. This, the last re- 

 maining representative of the agamoids, differs from all the other 

 members of the family in being covered with large conical spines, and in the con- 

 formation of its mouth and teeth. In all the forms previously described the mouth is 

 large and the teeth of both jaws are 'erect, but in the moloch the mouth is very 

 small, and the cheek teeth of the upper jaw are placed horizontally, with their sum- 

 mits directed inwardly. About eight inches in total length, this extraordinary 

 lizard has a small head, with an extremely short snout, on the summit of which are 

 pierced the nostrils; it has a much depressed body, a short and rounded tail, and 





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MOLOCH LIZARD. 



(Natural size.) 



thick, powerful limbs armed with strong claws. On each side of the head immedi- 

 ately above the small eye is a large horn curving outward and backward, while 

 there is a smaller conical spine above the nostril, a second behind the horn over the 

 eye, a third and larger one in front of each ear, as well as one on each side of the 

 occiput. Between these spines the upper surface of the head is protected by small 

 granular tubercles; while among the spines on the upper surface of the body, limbs, 

 and tail, are similar granules intermingled with polygonal scales of which the edges 

 are in apposition. On the back the spines form ten or more longitudinal series, of 

 which the outermost are the largest. The lower surface of the body has a 



