2Sfrtt'0nani of &nimatrtr $ature, 427 



of any that I k 



the horns of the head 



nd the numerous spines on the body giving 

 t a most formidable aspect. The scales of 

 the back are small and unequal ; they gra- 



MOLOCH LIZARD. (MOLOCH HORKIDD8,) 



dually increase in size as they approach the 

 base of the conical spines, which is sur- 

 rounded with a- ring of larger scales with 

 longer spines. The large spines are conical, 

 rather compressed, spinulose below, smooth 

 and acute at the tip, and are usually fur- 

 nished with a sharp-toothed ridge on the 

 front edge, and sometimes on both. These 

 spines only consist of a horny sheath, placed 

 on a fleshy process of the exact form and 

 appearance of the spines they bear. The 

 scales of the under side of the body are of 

 the same form as those of the back, and are 

 furnished with similar but smaller and less 

 produced spines. The back of the neck of 

 the two specimens I have seen is furnished 

 with a large rounded protuberance like a 

 cherry, covered with large granular spinous 

 scales, and armed on each side with a large 

 conical spine ; but I do not know if this is 

 common to the species, or merely accidental 

 in these individuals ; at any rate it adds con- 

 siderably to the singularity of their appear- 

 ance. I have named this genus, from its 

 appearance, after Moloch, " horrid king." 



MONAD. The name given to the smallest 

 creature that exists among the Infusorial 

 Animalculae; a mere atom or point, so small 

 indeed as sometimes almost to elude micro- 

 scopical examination ; yet we are told by 

 those who have devoted great attention to 

 this branch of Natural History, that inde- 

 scribably minute as these Monads are, they 

 present a distinct organization, and are capa- 

 ble of locomotion ; and have, moreover, senses 

 sufficient for their guidance. 



MONITOR. A name given to certain 

 larpe Saurian reptiles,belonging to the Lizard 

 tribe. They have teeth in both jaws, but 

 none on the palate, and the greater num- 



ber have the tail laterally compressed, as 

 more adapted to their aquatic habits. They 

 are divided into two distinct groups ; (the 

 first, or Nilotic Monitors, are known by their 

 numerons small scales upon the head and 

 limbs, the belly, and around the tail, which 

 latter has a keel above, composed of a double 

 range of projecting scales. The other group 

 of Monitors has angular plates upon the 



MONITOR OP THE NILK. 

 (MONITOR NILOTIC08.) 



head, and great rectangular scales upon the 

 belly and around the tail. The skin of their 

 throat is invested with small scales, and 

 forms two transverse folds. The Monitors 

 frequent the haunts of Crocodiles and Alli- 

 gators, and are said to receive the name 

 from their giving warning, by a whistling 

 sound, of the approach of those dangerous 

 reptiles. 



MONKEY. (Simiadce.) Under the word 

 APE will be found a general as well as a 

 particular description of the higher Quad- 

 rumana. Then come the BABOOXS, which 

 the reader will find similarly arranged in 

 alphabetical order. To them succeed the 

 MONKEYS, which, for the most part, are 

 distinguished by their having cheek-pouches 

 for the temporary reception of their food, 

 a long muscular tail, and callosities on each 

 side of it. The species are very numerous ; 

 many inhabit India and the Malay Archi- 

 pelago ; but Africa may be regarded as the 

 head-quarters of the Monkey tribe ; for 

 there they literally swarm. A great variety 

 of species are spread over the face of the 

 country ; each species being said to be re- 

 stricted to a certain extent of territory, and 

 violently resisting any intrusion upon it. 

 The Monkeys being the smallest of the quad- 

 rumana, are endued with less power for doing 

 mischief than the Ape and Baboon : their 

 ferocity, indeed, appears to diminish with 

 their size ; and, when taken wild in the 

 woods, they are tamed with more facility, 

 as well as sooner taught to imitate human 

 actions, than the larger kinds. Most of the 

 species are gregarious, associating in large 

 troops ; but each troop is invariably formed 

 of the same species. 



It has been well observed that the Monkey 

 tribes are in reality the masters of the fo- 

 rests : for their dominion is not disputed 

 either by the tiger or the lion, since they 

 easily escape them by their nimbleness, and 

 live on the tops of trees beyond their reach. 

 The only animals they have to dread are 

 serpents, who make perpetual war on them. 

 Some of these serpents are of prodigious size, 

 and swallow a Monkey with as much ease 

 as it can swallow a bird. Others are smaller, 

 but more agile, and go in quest of Monkeys 



