CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



AmblyryncJms cristatus of the Galapagos Isles, 

 first described by Mr Darwin, is partially aquatic 

 in its habits, spending the greater part of its time 

 in the sea. 



A gigantic fossil form, the Iguanodon, charac- 

 teristic of the Wealden Period, had teeth closely 

 resembling the Iguana of the present day. It 



Flying Lizard (Draco volans). 



attained the length of fifty feet More remarkable 

 than the iguanas is the Flying Lizard (Draco 

 -solans) of the East Indies. It is a small animal, 

 possessing a membrane at its sides, stretched 

 over the false ribs, by which it can float, though 

 it has no true power of flight, as upon a parachute, 

 from one tree to another. 



The Geckotida, or Nocturnal Lizards, have the 

 toes terminating in little suckers, enabling the 

 animal to creep up vertical walls, and along 

 ceilings, like the flies upon which it feeds. They 

 have a flattened body and a broad head, which, 

 aided by their sombre colour, gives them a dis- 

 agreeable appearance. They are timid and harm- 

 less, and are common in the warm climates of the 

 Old and New World. Like the Iguanidce, they 

 constitute an exceedingly numerous family. 



Family Chamceleonidce (Chameleons), which 

 includes the Common Chameleon (C. Africanus), 

 are animals of small size, with a prehensile tail. 

 They are readily distinguished from other lizards 

 by having climbing feet, and by the fact that the 

 eye is covered by a circular lid, which is perforated 

 by a small opening opposite the pupil. They are 

 natives of the Old World, and live in trees, 



Chameleon (Camaleo Africanus). 



which they seldom leave. Their prey, consisting 

 of flies and insects, is taken by darting out the 



adhesive disk. They are also remarkable for the 

 power they possess of changing their colour. 



ORDER 4. Crocodilia (Crocodiles) are inhabit- 

 ants of the rivers and fresh waters of equatorial 

 countries. They are formidable animals, and 

 attain the length of twenty or thirty feet. The 

 head is large, and each of the lengthened jaws is 

 furnished with a single row of teeth, which are 

 implanted in distinct sockets. The back and tail 

 are covered with strong dermal plates, per- 

 mitting of easy motion of the body and limbs. 

 The back is impenetrable to a musket-ball. Ort 

 land, the motion of the animal is slow, because 

 the legs are short, and the feet are palmated ; but 

 in water it moves rapidly, using the tail as a 

 powerful oar. The tail, with its serrated ridge of 

 scales, is a formidable weapon of offence and 

 defence. These animals usually feed upon decayed 

 carcasses that may come in their way, and are 

 thus of considerable service in the hot countries 

 which they inhabit. The eggs, which are about 

 the size of those of a goose, are deposited in the 

 sand, and hatched by the sun. There is only a 

 single genus in this order containing three species 

 I. The true Crocodile, which abounds in the 



glutinous 



166 



Gavial (Gavialis Gangeticus). 



Nile ; 2. The Alligator, found in the rivers and 

 swamps of North and South America; and 3. 

 The Gavial, which inhabits India and the islands 

 of the Eastern Archipelago. 



Fossil Reptiles. The Ichthyosaurus, from the 

 Lias and Oolite strata, was a marine animal, some- 

 times twenty feet long, possessing the vertebras of 

 a fish, with paddle-feet, like those of a turtle, and 

 a crocodile-like head, armed with sharp and 

 formidable teeth. The Plesiosaur was a smaller 

 animal, with a neck of extraordinary length, and 

 a small head. But the most singular fossil saurian, 

 is the Pterodactyle, which had the last digit of 

 the fore-limb extraordinarily lengthened. It was 

 furnished with a pair of wings, like those of a bat, 

 and thus is supposed to have been able to fly 

 through the air in pursuit of its prey. 



CLASS IV. AVES, OR BIRDS. 



These are oviparous vertebrates, with a complete 

 double system of circulation, with its proper con- 



' , . _ . " -*/ "" **** ^UAClllWllj YV 1L11 1LO LJ1 JJIJCI l\JU M 



tongue, which is terminated by an I sequence of warm blood. The skull is articulated 





