150 FLYING-DRAGON. 



and less greasy. Its most distinguishing character, how- 

 ever, is its horn, which projects forward from the upper 

 jaw, about twelve feet in length. 



Of all the variety of weapons with which Nature has 

 furnished her animal offspring, none is more formidable: 

 it is perfectly strait, about three or four inches in diameter, 

 tapering to a point, and wreathed in the most curious man- 

 ner. It is whiter, harder, and heavier than ivory, and is 

 capable of piercing the hardest substances ; but when the 

 animal ventures to strike this instrument, which it has 

 received for its defence against other tenants of the deep, 

 into the side of a ship, it generally loses its life for its 

 temerity. 



THE FLYING DRAGON, 



In spite of its formidable name, is a harmless lizard of 

 very peculiar form. Its length is about nine or ten inches, 

 or at most a foot ; its head is furnished with a triple pouch, 

 one point of which hangs below the throat, and one on 

 either side. The head itself is of a middling size ; the 

 neck is small ; the body and limbs slender ; the flying 

 membrane, which extends from the hind to the fore legs, 

 is of the form and structure of a fan ; the whole is covered 

 with small scales. The colour of the animal is an elegant 

 pale blue, or bluish grey, with dusky bars on the back and 

 tail ; the wings are marked with patches of black, brown, 

 and white; and of this last colour is the border of the 

 wings. The under surface of the animal is a pale brown. 

 It is an inhabitant of many parts of Asia and Africa, and 

 wanders about the trees, springing from bough to bough, 

 like the flying squirrels, or even bats. It feeds on insects, 

 and is of an inoffensive disposition. 



THE MUR^NA, 



Which was considered by the Romans as one of the 

 greatest luxuries of their table, is found in great abundance 

 on several of the coasts of the Mediterranean, where it 

 attains a size somewhat superior to that of the Eel. Its 



