84 THE TIGER LIZARD. 



THE family which comes next in order is that in which are included the AGAMAS, a group 

 of Lizards which have been appropriately termed the Iguanas of the Old World. In the 

 members of this family the teeth are set upon the edge of the jaws, and not upon their inner 

 side, as in the true Iguanas of the New World. Between thirty and forty genera are con- 

 tained in this family, and some of the species are interesting as well as peculiar beings. 



PERHAPS the most curious of all this family, if not, indeed, the most curious of all the 

 reptiles, is the little Lizard which is well known under the title of the FLYING DKAGON. 



This singular reptile is a native of Java, Borneo, the Philippines, and neighboring islands, 

 and is tolerably common. Some writers believe that this creature was the original source from 

 which the many fables respecting the formidable dragon of ancient and modern mythology 

 were derived. Perhaps, however, the real clue to the various fables that were once so common 

 respecting the formidable dragon may be found in one of the huge saurians of the ancient 

 days, which had. survived its comrades, and preserved its existence upon the earth after man 

 had been placed upon this planet. 



The most conspicuous characteristic of this reptile is the singularly developed membranous 

 lobes on either side, which are strengthened by certain slender processes from the first six false 

 ribs, and serve to support the animal during its bold leaps from branch to branch. Many of 

 the previously mentioned Lizards are admirable leapers, but they are all outdone by the 

 Dragon, which is able, by means of the membranous parachute with which it is furnished, to 

 sweep through distances of thirty paces, the so-called flight being almost identical with that 

 of the flying squirrels and flying fish. 



When the Dragon is at rest, or even when traversing the branches of trees, the parachute 

 lies in folds along the sides ; but when it prepares to leap from one bough to another, it spreads 

 its winged sides, launches boldly into the air, and sails easily, with a slight fluttering of the 

 wings, towards the point on which it had fixed, looking almost like a stray leaf blown by the 

 breeze. As if in order to make itself still more buoyant, it inflates the three membranous sacs 

 that depend from its throat, suffering them to collapse again when it has settled upon the 

 branch. It is a perfectly harmless creature, and can be handled with impunity. The food of 

 the Flying Dragon consists of insects. 



The color of this reptile is variable, but is usually as follows : The upper surface is gray, 

 with a tinge of olive, and daubed or mottled with brown. Several stripes of grayish-white are 

 sometimes seen upon the wings, which are also ornamented with an angular network of dark, 

 blackish-brown. Sometimes the black is rather plentiful upon the wings, forming four or five 

 oblique bands near the edge. It is a small creature, measuring only a few inches in length. 



THE FRINGED DRAGON is mostly found in Sumatra, where it seems to be tolerably common. 

 In habits, and in general appearance, this reptile bears a great resemblance to the preceding 

 species, from which, however, it may be known by the conspicuous black spots on its wings, 

 each spot being surrounded with a ring of white. The head is grayish-white, covered with an 

 irregular network of dark brown, and on the throat are a number of circular specks covered 

 with granular scales. Upon the under parts of the male, the scales are rather large and keeled, 

 and upon the wing are a number of rather short, white dashes of a partly triangular shape. 

 Along the sides runs a series of small, triangular, keeled scales. 



Besides these species there are several other flying Dragons, all inhabiting similar locali- 

 ties. They are divided into genera on account of the different structure of the ear, and the 

 position of the nostrils. The tail of all the Dragon Lizards is extremely long, and very 

 slenderly formed. 



A VEBT curious reptile of this family deserves a passing notice. This is the TIGER LIZARD, 

 or GONTOCEPHALE (Gonyocephalus chameleontina), a native of Java. This creature is remark- 

 able for the high and deeply-toothed crest which runs along the nape of the neck, like the 

 crest of an ancient helmet, and far overtops the head, although the upper part of the skull is 

 much raised by an enlargement of the orbits. A large but compressed pouch hangs from the 



