Lizards 



569 



fkolo dy W. SavilU-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Sea. 



AUSTRALIAN WATER-LIZARD. 

 This lizard is of aquatic habits, and runs on its hind legs when traversing long distances. 



every day by taking them into 

 the garden and placing them 

 in communication with a 

 swarming ant-track. By care- 

 ful observation it was found 

 that no less than from 1,000 

 to 1,500 ants were devoured 

 by each lizard at a single 

 sitting. The ant-devouring 

 proclivities of these prickly 

 little lizards can no doubt be 

 turned to very useful and 

 effective account in clearing 

 ani>infested domiciles, and 

 were in fact thus utilised by 

 the writer on more than one 

 occasion. 



The lizards included in the Agama Family are essentially inhabitants of the Eastern 

 Hemisphere, none occurring in America. In the western continent, however, we find an 

 equally extensive but structurally distinct group which presents many singularly corresponding 

 types. This family comprises the true IGUANAS, many of them of considerable size, and a 

 numerous assemblage of smaller forms. Among those species which present a striking parallel 

 in size and aspect to the peculiarly characteristic Old World Agamas, mention may be made 

 of the little so-called HORNED TOAD, or SPINY LIZARD, of California and other of the North 

 American States. This species might readily be taken by the uninitiated for a near relation 

 of the Australian Moloch Lizard, or Mountain-devil, last described, its flattened diminutive form 

 and bristling spiny armature seemingly justifying such a supposition. The crucial test afforded 

 by the character of the dentition, however, distinctly indicates its true position to be with 

 the Iguanas. In the Agamas the teeth are invariably developed from the apex, or summit, of 



the jaw. These teeth, moreover, are 

 varied in character. In the Iguanas, 

 on the other hand, the teeth are all 

 more or less uniform in character, 

 and are attached to the outer sides 

 of the jaw. 



The larger iguanas are, for the 

 most part, exclusively fruit- and 

 vegetable-feeders, and arboreal in their 

 habits. The thick forest scrubs in 

 the vicinity of streams and rivers 

 are their favourite resort. After the 

 manner of the Australian water- 

 lizards, these iguanas are expert 

 swimmers, and delight in lying along 

 the overhanging branches, whence at 

 the slightest alarm they can precipi- 

 tate themselves into the water beneath. 

 , i When swimming, the fore limbs are 

 folded back against the sides, the 



-Kent, F.z.s.} ~ iMiiford-on-sea." tail only being used as a means of pro- 



AUSTRALI AN WATER-LIZARD. pulsion. Several of the larger iguanas, 



Showing attitude when running. SUCh as the Common Or tuberculated 



72 



