182 REPT1LIA. 



rounded by age; brown, with pale and deeper coloured dots, forming vari 

 ous compartments, among which we observe transverse rows of large ocel- 

 lated spots that become rings on the tail. It attains a length of five and six 

 feet. The Egyptians pretend it is a young Crocodile hatched in a dry 

 place. It was engraved upon the monuments of that country by its ancient 

 inhabitants, and possibly, because it devours the eggs of the Crocodile. 



LACERTA, properly so called, 



Or true Lizards, form the second genus of the Lacertians. The extremity 

 of their palate is armed with two rows of teeth, and they are otherwise 

 distinguished by a collar under the neck, formed, of a transverse row of large 

 scales, separated from those on the belly by a space covered with small ones 

 only, like those under the throat; and by the circumstance that a part of the 

 cranium projects over their temples and orbits, so as to furnish the whole 

 top of the head with a bony buckler. 

 They are very numerous. 



FAMILY III. 

 IGUANIDA. 



This third great family of Saurians possesses the general form, 

 long tail, and free and unequal toes of the Lacertians; their eye, 

 ear, &c. are also similar, but their .tongue is fleshy, thick, non-ex- 

 tensible, and only emarginated at the tip. 



They may be divided into two sections; in the first, or that of the 

 AGAMIANS, there are no palatine teeth. In this section we place 

 the following genera. 



STELLIO, Cuv. 



In addition to the general characters of the family of the Iguanida, the tail 

 is encircled by rings composed of large and frequently, spiny scales. It is 

 divided by naturalists into various sub genera. 



AGAMA, Daud. 



The Agamse bear a great resemblance to the common Stellios, particularly 

 in their inflated head; but the scales of their tail, which are imbricate and 

 not yerticillate, distinguish them from that genus. Their maxillary teeth 

 are nearly similar, and there are none in the palate. This genus is also di- 

 vided into various subgenera. 



ISTIURUS, CUV. 



The distinguishing character of this genus consists in an elevated and tren- 



