120 LIZARDS. 



an allied species (C. ophiomachus), from India and Ceylon, turns brilliant red ovei 

 the head and neck, the body at the same time becoming pale yellow ; hence il 

 is popularly known as the " blood-sucker." 



Ceylon Homed Three remarkable lizards from Ceylon, constituting the genus 



Lizards. Ceratophora, and belonging to a group in which the aperture of the 

 ear is concealed, derive their name from carrying a more or less elongated horn- 

 like process on the nose, at least in the male sex ; the neck and back being devoid 

 of a crest. One of the species, which attains a length of about 10 inches, has a 

 horn measuring half an inch. These lizards appear to be very rare, one of th 

 species being confined to mountain districts. 



For want of a distinct English title, we are compelled to designate 



the members of the genus Agama collectively by anglicising theii 

 scientific name. Distinguished from all the previously noticed forms and their 

 allies, with the exception of the flying lizards, by their more or less depressed 

 bodies, agamas are especially characterised by the exposed aperture of the ear, and 

 the presence of large callous scales in front of the vent in the males. The crest 

 on the back is, at most, but small, and may be wanting ; while each side of the 

 throat has a pit, and there is likewise a transverse fold across this part. A sac- 

 like appendage may or may not occur beneath the throat, and the moderately 

 long tail may be either cylindrical or slightly compressed. Less important 

 characters are to be found in the form of the head, which is short and triangular, 

 very broad behind, and rounded at the muzzle, as well as in the relative length 

 and slenderness of the limbs. The head is covered above with small, smooth scales : 

 those on the back are overlapping and keeled ; while on the tail the scales may be 

 either simply overlapping or arranged in whorls. 



The distribution of the genus is somewhat peculiar, impinging on South-Eastern 

 Europe, and embracing the greater part of South-Eastern Asia, as well as the whole 

 of Africa, but excluding India proper, together with Cey]on and Burma, although 

 including the Punjab, Sind, and the Himalaya. As indicated by their depressed 

 bodies, agamas are mainly ground-lizards, generally .frequenting barren localities 

 or rocks, although a few species resort to shrubs. The circular pupil of their eyes 

 is equally indicative of diurnal habits ; and a large number of species are fond of 

 basking on rocks in the full glare of the sun. In such situations, as in the valleys 

 around Kashmir, they may be seen in numbers on almost every roadside mass of 

 rock, where their extreme agility renders them very difficult to capture ; the best 

 method, according to the writer's experience, when specimens are required for 

 preservation, being to strike with the lash of a hunting-whip, whereby they are 

 instantaneously stunned or killed. As regards food, all appear to be insectivorous. 

 From among rather more than forty representatives of the genus, 



three are selected for especial notice. The first of these is the armed 

 agama (A. armata) of South Africa, which is represented in the figure opposite, 

 and attains a total length of some 20 inches, of which rather more than 6 are 

 occupied by the tail. Belonging to the second great group of the genus, or that in 

 which the occipital or hindmost median scale on the top of the head is enlarged, 

 this species is characterised by the spinose scales on the back being of unequal size, 

 by the aperture of the ear being larger than the eye, by the fifth toe being as long 



