PRILLED LIZARD. Chlamydosaitrus Kingn. 



The Frilled Lizard is a native of Australia, and, like most of the family, is generally 

 found on trees, which it can traverse with great address. It. seems to be a bold and 

 courageous animal, trusting to its formidable teeth and generally ferocious aspect as a 

 means of defence. "As we were pursuing our walk in the afternoon," writes Captain 

 Grey, " we fell in with a specimen of the remarkable Frilled Lizard. It lives principally in 

 trees, though it can run very swiftly along the ground. When not provoked or disturbed, 

 it moves quietly about, with its frill lying back in plaits upon the body ; but it is very 

 irascible, and directly it is frightened, it elevates the frill or ruff, and makes for a tree, 

 where, if overtaken, it throws itself upon its stern, raising its head and chest as high as it 

 can upon the fore legs ; then, doubling its tail underneath the body, and displaying a very 

 formidable set of teeth from the concavity of its large frill, it boldly faces an opponent, 

 biting furiously whatever is presented to it, and even venturing so far in its rage as to 

 fairly make a charge at its enemy. 



We repeatedly tried the courage of this Lizard, and it certainly fought bravely when- 

 ever attacked. From the animal making so much use of its frill as a covering and means 

 of defence for its body, this is probably one of the uses to which nature intended the 

 appendage should be applied." 



This remarkable Lizard was discovered by Mr. Allan Cunningham, who caught the 

 first specimen as it was perching on the stem of a small decayed tree. 



The general colour of the Frilled Lizard is yellow -brown mottled with black, and it 

 is remarkable that the tongue and the inside of the mouth are also yellow. The frill, 

 which forms so conspicuous an ornament to this creature, is covered with scales, and 

 toothed on the edge. It does not come to its full size until the animal has attained 

 maturity, and increases in regular proportion to the age of its owner. In the young, the 

 frill does not even reach the base of the fore limbs, while in the adult it extends well 

 beyond them. The head is somewhat pyramidal in shape, and four-sided. There is no 

 pouch on the throat. A small crest runs along the nape of the neck, but does not 

 extend to the back. The tail is long and tapering, and like the back, is devoid of a crest 

 The eyes are rather prominent during the life of the reptile, and the tongue is thick, 



