VARANID.K. 



VABIKTIES. 



1181 



The multitudinous bone* which form the tail of the second 

 art very well developed, particularly in their transverse processes, aud 

 offer strong point* of attachment for the muscles : the upper and 

 lower apophyae* are comparatively greatly increased. Compresied 

 throughout its entire length, this tail becomes a powerful organ of 

 motion when the animal is in the water, particularly as it is often 

 surmounted with a crest formed by one or two rows of flattened scales, 

 a fit propelling oar for the body rendered buoyant by the air with 

 which the lungs are filled. 



On land they run with rapidity, but their motion is always serpen- 

 tine, a mode of progression due to their long tail, which helps to push 

 them forward, and aids them in their leaps upon the prey which they 

 pursue. 



Their food consists of animal matters, and especially large insects, 

 such as Rlalttt, locustn, crickets, and beetles. It is asserted that they 

 hunt after the eggs of birds and crocodiles, and that chameleons, small 

 tortoises, and fish hare been found in their stomachs. M. Lesche- 

 nault de Latour relate* that they unite on the banks of rivers and 

 lakes to attack quadrupeds which come to quench their thirst, and 

 that he has seen them attack a young stag as he attempted to swim 

 across a river, in order to drown him. He even declares that be found 

 the thigh-bone of a sheep in the stomach of one which he dissected. 



Such are the animals which in certain parts of their organisation 

 come neoreut to the great extinct Saurians of old. If the habits 

 ascribed to these Varaman* bore any relation to those of the great 

 carnivorous Saurians now swept away from the face of the earth, we 

 should have in those annihilated giants no bad representatives of the 

 dragons of our wildest legends. 



Geographical Distribution. The family of Varanians, as modified 

 by Memrs. Uumcril and Bibrou, exist iu all parts of the world, with 

 the exception of Europe. 



America claims one only, that on which the genus Ildodcrma is 

 founded. 



In Asia there are four Tot-ant properly so called; three in Africa; 

 and four in Oceania. Of these four, two have been observed in 

 Australia, one in the isles of the Papuan Archipelsgo, and the fourth 

 in the Isle of Timor. 



Mann. Dumlril and Bibron state that the locality of one specie;!, 

 Varatnu alboyttlarit, it unknown, but Dr. Smith obtained it iu South 

 Africa ; it thus make* a fourth African species. 



The species of the genus \'aranut, or Haraniu, are distinguished 

 by the form a*suuied by the scales upon the back. 



dorul soles 



^>er -wra^ 



I, ll> ad of 1'arnntu nitotlonu ; 1, doral Kales of the nme ; ), 

 of Fframut .\ilolitvi ; 4, dorul Kliei of 1'm-anut ficguolii. 



V. albomdari* is an example of the terrestrial species. 



V. alltogularu is an example of the terrestrial species. It i.s the 

 Tttputamtjii gularii of I tauilin ; Varanut ornattu, Merr. ; Tujiinamlii 

 albogoJai-it. Kuhl ; Polydadaliu alltogutaru, Wag)., and Monitor albo- 

 Oray. It is a native of Africa. 



fitranut attoftttarii. (Smith.) 



I'. Mlii is all example of the aquatic fpecics. It is a native of 

 Australia. 



1'aranttt lltltii. 



ffclodcrma horridum is another aquatic species. It i* a native of 

 Mexico, where there is an erroneous but general belief that the bite 

 of this species ii fatal. 



lie. ul of llrMrrmtt. 



Ileloirruia horridum. 



VARA'NUS. 



VARI, liiiffnii's name for the Lemur Macaco of Liunonis. 



VARIETIES, in Botnny, nrc groups of individual plants subordinate 

 to species. The character of the Species is found in its capability of 

 reproducing by wed a plant which ia more like itself than it is 'like 

 anything else ; ami this under all circumstances in which the offspring 

 is capable of being produced. The Variety differs from the Specice in 



