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THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



FLYINa DUAGOX. 



time in the air, like the bat or flying-squirrel. The tiny 

 painted Dragon of the East, the Flying Lizard of the woods, 



is fond of clinging with its wings to 

 the smooth trunks of trees, and there 

 remaining immovable, basking in the 

 sun. When disturbed, it leaps and 

 shuffles away in an awkward manner. 

 One Mr. Adams had in his possession, 

 reminded him of a bat when placed 

 on the ground. Sometimes the strange 

 creature would feign death, and re- 

 main perfectly motionless, drooping 

 its head, and doubling its limbs, until 

 it fancied the danger over, then cautiously raising its crouch- 

 ing form, it would look stealthily around, and be off in a 

 moment. The dragon consumes flies in a slow and delibe- 

 rate manner, swallowing them gradually ; its various species 

 belong exclusively to India and the islands of the Eastern 

 Archipelago. 



Who has not heard of the fatal glance of the basilisk, which, 

 according to poetical fancy, obliged all other poisonous animals 

 to keep at a respectful distance 



* from monster more abhorr'd than they ' ? 



The truth is, that the ugly lizards that bear this dreaded name, 

 which has been given them from the fanciful resemblance of 

 their pointed occipital crest to a regal crown, are quite as 

 harmless and inoffensive as the flying dragon. They are chiefly 

 inhabitants of South America, where they generally lead a 

 sylvian life, feeding on insects. 



SURINAM TOAD. 



Among the toads of the torrid zone there is none more 

 curious than the large and hideous Pipa Surinamensis, whose 



