NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 159 



least this species is considered edible, and the writer can 

 testify that to a hungry man its flesh is excellent. 



Other Lizards. Within the main halls of the Reptile 

 House will be found various representatives of the smaller 

 Lizards, a few of which may be mentioned. 



The Common Iguana, (Iguana tubercHlata), is a large and 

 showy tree-climbing species from the West Indies, where it 

 eats soft fruits, and in turn is eaten by the natives. 



The beautiful, emerald-colored Green Lizard, (Lacerta 

 I'iridis), of Europe, is not only a handsome species, but it is 

 also one of the most satisfactory to keep in a vivarium a 

 good feeder and always posing. The Chameleon of the Old 

 World, (Chamaeleo vulgaris), because of its color phases and 

 its remarkable form, is truly a great "curiosity"; but it 

 should not be confused with our so-called American Cha- 

 meleon, which belongs to another Family, and is also less in- 

 teresting. 



Our well-known Gila Monster, (pronounced He-la} (Helo- 

 derma suspectum},\s a stupid, slow-moving creature from the 

 southwestern deserts, thick-set and stumpy in body, and it 

 has the appearance of being covered all over with dark- 

 brown, black, and yellow beads, such as Indians use in their 

 bead industry. Its bite is sufficiently venomous that it in- 

 flicts a painful wound, but it is not necessarily fatal. 



The famous Glass Snake, (Ophiosauris ventralis), is im- 

 portant because its resemblance to a snake is so perfect 

 it is generally mistaken for one, although a true lizard. 



THE SERPENTS. 



The Order of Serpents, (Ophidia}.The large glazed 

 cases along the northern side of the main hall of the Reptile 

 House are devoted to the larger serpents, while the smaller 

 species are provided for along the south wall, and in the 

 adjoining room. One serious difficulty in the management of 

 a collection of living serpents lies in the fact that often the 

 most valuable specimens are so nervous and shy in their 

 feeding habits it is impossible to cage several together. 



Out of the many species of serpents exhibited in the Rep- 

 tile House, ten are chosen as fairly representing the prin- 

 cipal groups. 



The Black Snake, (Bascanium constrictor], a common spe- 

 cies in the eastern United States, is probably the highest 

 type of the harmless snakes. It is a serpent of great vigor 

 and activity in running, climbing, and swimming; it pos- 



