368 



THE STORY OF THE LIZARD. 



a horse-shoe, or semi-hiiiar shape, set crosswise, which, together with the 

 equal-sized scales over the eyes, serve as marks which readily distinguish it 

 from many other species. The under parts are gray, with cross bands of 

 black, and marked with white spots when young. 



The lizards commonly known as flying dragons are elegant and harmless 

 little creatures to whom such a title seems inappropriate, and therefore I 

 prefer to substitute the name of flying lizards. These flying lizards, which 

 are represented by tw^enty-one species, ranging over the greater part of the 



WATER MONITORS ROBBING A NEST. 



Oriental region, are at once distinguished from all their kindred by the de- 

 pressed body being provided with a large wing-like membranous expansion, 

 capable o^f being folded up like a fan. The throat is furnished with a large 

 membranous expansion, on the sides of which are a smaller pair; and the 

 tail is long and whip^like. The best known of the species is the Malay flying 

 lizard. 



The flying lizards generally frequent the crown of trees, and as they 

 are comparatively scarce, and seldom descend to the ground, they are but 



