88 



THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



A B 



A SKVLL, ONE FOOT TEN INCHES IN DIAMETER, AND B TAIL-SHEATH OF Miolania Olfe/li, 



ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED BY SIR RICHARD OWEN AS THE FOSSIL REMAINS OF A 



GIGANTIC LIZARD ALLIED TO Moloch horridtlS, AFTER OWEN, p. 83. 



I'ltrynosoma cornutum being the commonest form. Although belonging to a separate 

 family, that of the Iguanidse, their shape and size correspond very nearly with those 

 of Moloch, but defensive spines of conspicuous dimensions are chiefly limited in 

 their distribution to the 

 region of the head. Pro- 

 bably, though the fact 

 would not appear as yet 

 to have been established, 

 Phrynosoma, in common 

 with Moloch, is an ant- 

 eater. 



Life-sized photographic representations of male and female individuals of Moloch 

 horridtis, taken by the author from living specimens, form the subject of Plate XIII. 

 In addition to portraying the relative proportions and spinous developments of the 

 respective sexes, these figures serve also to indicate their more ordinary colour 

 patterns. While varying much in tint in different individuals and even in the same 

 individual at different times, a corresponding configuration of the colour areas is 

 mostly dominant. These, on the dorsal surface, usually consist of bilaterally arranged 

 patches of varying shades of brown, light red, or an almost crimson hue upon a 

 lighter ground of grey, brown, or it may be cream-colour or a brighter yellow, while 

 in any case there is invariably a yet lighter median streak separating the right and 



left halves of the colour 

 patches. A dark Y-shaped 

 patch, with a lighter linear 

 border, is developed on 

 the head and there are 

 irregular blotches of the 

 same tint on the four limbs. 

 In taking leave of 

 this interesting type, we 

 reproduce the accompany- 

 ing photographic life study 

 for the special benefit of 

 those among our fair 



readers to whom an 



A MILLINERY NOVELTY, OR ""WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?" 



