300 REPTILES. 



The Plying 1 Lizards (Draco volant) have their hinder pairs of ribs prolonged to 

 such an extent that they support a broad expansion of the skin, so spread out from 

 either side as to perform the office of a parachute, thus enabling these little creatures to 

 spring from tree to tree with wonderful activity. 



The Scinks (Scincida) have the legs small, feeble, and set far apart ; the 

 body is covered with overlapping scales. The tongue is fleshy, notched, and 

 scaly. They are harmless, commonly feeding on insects ; but 



The Gallywasp of the West Indies (Celestns occiduus) feeds on fruits. 



FIG. 326. GALLYWASP. 



The Monitors ( Varanidic) have a protrusile, sheathed, and forked tongue, and 

 are covered with tubercle-like scales, arranged in rings or circular bands round the body 

 and tail. Their name is derived from the Latin word monco, to warn, these animals 

 being believed to give warning of the approach of the crocodile. They are found only 

 in the warmer parts of Africa and Asia. They live near the banks of rivers, and some 

 are altogether aquatic. They often devour the eggs of crocodiles and aquatic birds ; 

 even small fishes, lizards, and tortoises fall victims to their voracity. 



The Guanas (Iguana-) belong to the New World. Their teeth are of remarkable 

 structure and crenated round the edge. Most of them live on trees, which they climb 

 by means of their long hooked claws, in search of fruits and leaves, that form their 

 principal sustenance. The flesh of the Common Guana is in good estimation as an 

 article of food. 



The Geckos (Gecko). All the preceding families are active by day, but 

 the geckos are nocturnal in their habits. They are rather clumsy and stoutly 

 built, of dull lurid colours, with great eyes, the pupils of which contract to a 

 line, like those of a cat. The structure of their toes is very remarkable : their 

 under surface is expanded into broad flaps, furnished with parallel plates that 

 overlap each other (Fig, 327). By means of these they are enabled to cling 

 to perpendicular surfaces, or even to walk suspended from the ceiling like the 



