TRUE REPTILES. 



213 



pable of projecting five or six inches, and covered with 

 a sticky secretion for the capture of insects. The eyes 

 are large, with a circular eyelid, and are independent of 

 each other. Their five toes are arranged in two oppo- 

 site groups of pincers. Their movements are slow and 

 deliberate, and their power of adapting their color to that 

 of their surroundings is remarkable. The eggs are round, 

 white, and deposited in the ground. In the Flying-Liz- 

 ards (Agamuke) of the East Indies (Fig. 255) the tail is 

 long and snake-like, while between the limbs extends a 

 membrane supported by the 

 much-prolonged fifth or sixth 

 hind-ribs. The female depos- 

 its three or four eggs at a time. 

 The frilled lizard of Queens- 

 land has hind-legs adapted for 

 leaping. The Moloch horridus 

 of Australia is a sluggish form, 

 completely covered with large 

 and small spine-bearing tuber- 

 cles. The Iguana* is found 

 in the tropical portions of North 

 and South America. It attains 

 a length of five feet, and is ex- 

 tremely powerful, inflicting ter- 

 rible blows with its tail. They 

 live among the trees, subsisting 

 upon the fruit, and are sought 



after as an article of food. The Anolis (Fig. 256) of the 

 Southern States belongs to this family, and is noted for 

 its changes of color. The horned lizard (Fig. 257) of 

 Mexico and the Western States is covered with spines, 



* John G. Bell, the naturalist and companion of Audubon in many 

 of his expeditions, saw an iguana rush across the surface of a river in 

 Central America, keeping upon the surface by the lightning-like rapidity 

 of its movements. A very few minutes sufficed to cross. 



FIG. 255. Red-throated flying 

 dragon (Draco], showing 

 membrane supported by ribs. 



