SAURIANS. 27 



approacii somewhat to a square form ; the teeth are strong, compressed, 

 and without denticulations : there are none in the palate : there is a series 

 of femoral pores. The skin of the throat is smooth and lax, but without 

 forming a dewlap. 



Lac^ amboinensis, Gm. ; the Amhoina Lophura, Le Porte- 

 Crcte, Lacep. ; Schlosser, Monog. cop. Bonnat. Erpet. pi. v, f. 2. 

 The crest confined to the origin of the tail; some spines on the 

 front of the back; lives in water, or on the shrubs about its shores; 

 feeds on seeds and worms. We have discovered in its stomach 

 both leaves and insects. It is sometimes found four feet in length. 

 Its flesh is edible. 



Draco*, L, 



The Dragons are distinguished at the first glance, from all other Sau- 

 rians, by their first six false ribs, which, instead of encircling the abdo- 

 men, extend outwards in a straight line, and support a production of the 

 skin, forming a kind of wing that may be compared to that of a Bat, but 

 which is not connected with the four feet; it acts like a parachute in sup- 

 porting tliem when they leap from one branch to another, but has not suffi- 

 cient power to resist the air and raise them like a bird. Besides, the 

 Dragons are small animals, completely invested with little imbricated 

 scales, of which those on the tail and limbs are carinated. Their tongue 

 is fleshy, and somewhat extensible. A long pointed dewlap hangs under 

 their throat, supported by the tail of the os hyoides ; there are also two 

 smaller ones on the sides attached to the horns of the same bone. The 

 tail is long; there are no porous granules on the thighs, and there is a 

 little notch on the nape of the neck. Four small incisors are found in 

 each jaw, and on each side a long and pointed canine, and twelve triangu- 

 lar and trilobate grinders. 



They consequently have the scales and dewlap of the Iguanse, with the 

 head and teeth of the Stellio. 



All the known species are from the East Indies ; they were con- 

 founded for a great length of time, but Daudin has accurately deter- 

 mined their specific difFerencesf . 



Sitana:J:, Cuv. 



Teeth of the Agamas, and four canini; body and limbs covered with 

 imbricated and carinated scales ; no pores on the thighs ; but their ribs 

 are not extended outwards. They are distinguished by an enormous dew- 

 lap which reaches to the middle of the belly, and which is twice the 

 height of the animal. 



Sit. ponticeriana, Cuv., is the only known species, and is from 



• The term drakon^ Gr.> draco, Lat, generally designated a large Serpent; Dragons, 

 with a crest or beard, are spoken of by antient writers, a description which can only apply 

 to the Iguana; Lucian is the first who mentions /'V)//«^Z)ra^o«*, alluding, no doubt, to 

 the pretended Flying Serpents treated of by Herodotus; St. Augustine, and other 

 subsequent authors, ever after described Dragons as having wings. 



t The Dragon ruye; — the Drag, vert, Daud. Ill, xli; — the Drag, bnuu 

 X aUan is the name of the species on the Coast of Coromandel. 



