3S0 VEliTEBliATA. 



or oxtcndo<l, in the maiiiior of n fan, at the pleasure of the animal. Tt measures about two feet 

 ill Ifiii^h; it is a bold creature, fighting fiercely when pursued, and always extending its broad 

 rutV when in ciroumstaiuH's of irritation or danger. 



A still more remarkalile development of the dorsal system is presented by the Flyiny Dragons, 

 «)f whifli thri-e spccirs are known in India and the Asiatic Islands. They live on trees, upon 

 wliieh thcv run aliout in search of insects, on which they feed. These are furnished with a 

 broatl membraneous lobe on each side, supported by six first false ribs, which are extended straight 

 outward from the vcrti-bral column. By the movements of these bones the dragons are enabled 

 to stretch their broad lateral membranes, which thus fonn a sort of parachute to support them 

 in long leaps from branch to branch. They are, however, quite destitute of any power to strike 

 the air, so that their flight is in fact nothing but a floating through the atmosphere. They 

 arc small harmless creatures, seldom exceeding a foot in length. 



The flying dnigons of the older writers were fabulous creatures, and their descriptions are 

 known to have been, in some instances, founded upon articles manufactured for the expres:; pur- 

 pose of duping credulous naturalists. 



Some other species of the Agamidse are worthy of notice. Among them we may mention 



the Stellio vulgaris, a common lizard in the Levant, 



and also in Egypt, Avhere its excrements were for- 



>^. .^ottjqfiEfijHML^ ^^ merly collected and used as a cosmetic. Cuvier 



"^^■k J^^WS^fe^^ mSC' ^^^*^^ ^^^^ ^^ Mahometans destroy this animal wher- 



"^^fc. jajMBHilp^^ ]^f ^^^^ they see it, because, as they say, it insults them 



^^^^^gT|^p,'^-:^^^^^ ^ y by bowing its head in imitation of their motions when 



^(^T>^^>' - ; 'rl^^^^^^F engaged in prayer. Another singular species, from 



Australia, has been described by Dr. Gray under 

 the name of Moloch horridus. The whole surface of 

 this lizard is covered with irregular plates and strong 

 acute spines, and the upper surface of the head bears 

 two very large spines. Altogether it is a most hideous- 

 looking creature. 



Genus rilRYXOSOMA: Fhrynosoma.— This in- 

 cludes Douglass's Phrynosoma, P. Douglassii, found 

 at Salt Lake Valley, by Captain Stansbury, from whose 

 work we copy the annexed engraving. It is three and 

 a half inches long, and olive-green above. The head 

 is covered with sharp spines or roundish knobs ; the 

 body is scattered over with irregular spine-like scales. 

 It is sluggish in its habits, and has some resem- 

 blance to a toad, whence this, with other species — 

 of which there are five or six, in California, Utah, 

 and the Southwestern States — are called Horned 

 Douglass's phetxosoma. Toads. 



THE CHAMELEOKTIDiE. 



Genus CHAMELEON : Chama'lco.— This is the only genus of the family, but it contains about 

 eighteen known species, all inhabitants of the Old World, and which are, perhaps, the most singu- 

 lar in the whole order of lizards. They are all small animals, with a curious pyramidal, and 

 unusually angular head, distinctly separated from the neck, a short, thick body, which gradually 

 tapers from the region of the shoulders to the point of insertion of the hind-legs, and a short pre- 

 hensile tail. The mouth is very large ; the teeth are firmly attached to the jaws ; the ears are 

 entirely concealed under the skin, and the eyes, which are very large and prominent, are closely 

 covered by a circular lid, which is only perforated by a small round opening immediately in 

 front of the pupil. The legs are rather long and slender ; the feet are composed of five toes, 

 which, however, are dinded into two opposite bundles, and. the toes of each bundle are so united 



