9 o LIZARDS. 



the scales on the sides of the neck are very long and sharp, and those of the back are 

 broad, boldly keeled, and sharply pointed, so that the creature presents rather a formi- 

 dable appearance. The tail is long and powerful. 



THERE is a very remarkable Lizard belonging to this family, called the EARED MEGA- 

 LOCHILE, or sometimes, though wrongly, the EARED AGAMA. 



This curious creature is found in Russia, several specimens from that country being in 

 the collection of the British Museum. In this genus, containing, as far as is at present 

 known, only one species, the head is flat and round, the eyes large, and the ears sunken 

 and concealed under the skin. On the angle of the mouth at each side is placed a large 

 membranous fold of skin, curved so as to bear a close resemblance to a large external 

 ear, and boldly toothed on its edge. The neck is rather contracted, as if pinched, and 

 has a cross fold below. The back has no crest, the tail is much flattened throughout 

 its length, and the toes are long and very strongly toothed on the edge. The color of 

 this reptile is gray and brown, with a slight green wash upon the top of the head. 



MOLOCH. Moloch horrldus. 



The EGYPTIAN MASTIGURE, or SPINE-FOOTED STELLIO, is a native of Northern Africa, 

 and was said, though wrongly, to be the reptile spoken of by the ancients as the land- 

 crocodile. A figure of this creature may be seen on page 89. 



This species attains a rather large size, a full-grown specimen sometimes measuring 

 a yard in length. It is an inhabitant of desert spots, preferring old ruins, rocky 

 ground, and similar localities, where it can obtain instant refuge in case of alarm. The 

 color of this reptile is bright grass-green during life, but, as is generally the case with 

 all these animals, the brilliant colors fade soon after death, and change to dingy 

 blackish brown if the skin be stuffed, or to mottled grays, browns, and blacks, if pre- 

 served in spirits. The head of this creature is rounded, the back without a crest, the 

 skin of the throat so folded as partly to cover the ears, and the ears themselves are 

 oblong, and toothed in front. The tail is rather flattened, and furnished with transverse 

 rows of large scales, boldly keeled, and sharply pointed. A few conical spines are 

 scattered upon the upper part of the thigh, the sides, and loins. 



