30 REPTILES. 



The species known, Lacerta basiliscus, L. ; Seb. I, c. 1 ; Daud. 

 Ill, xlii, (Basilisk), is recognized byjthe hood-like membranous pro- 

 minence of its occiput, that is supported by cartilage. It attains 

 a large size, is bluish, with two white bands, one behind the eye, the 

 other the back of the jaws, which are lost towards the shoulder*. It 

 is from Guiana, and feeds on grain. 



Polyciirus, Cuv. 



The Marbled Lizards have the teeth in the palate as in the Iguana, and 

 femoral pores, though the latter are not strongly marked; but the body is 

 covered with small scales, and is destitute of a crest. The head is co- 

 vered with plates ; tail long and slender ; throat very extensible, so that a 

 dewlap is formed at the will of the animal, which, like the Chameleon, 

 possesses the faculty of changing colour; the lungs, consequently, are 

 very voluminous, occupy nearly the whole trunk, and are divided into 

 several branches : the false ribs, like those of the chameleon, surround 

 the abdomen by uniting so as to form perfect circles. 



Lae. marmorata, L.; Marbre de la Guiane, Lacep. I, xxvi; Seb. 

 II, lxxvi, 4; Spix, XIV. Reddish-grey, marbled with irregular 

 transverse bands of a brown red, sometimes mixed with blue ; the 

 tail very long. Common in Guiana 'p. 



Ecpiiimotus, Fitzinger. 



The Marbled Lizards of Guiana have the teeth and pores of a Poly- 

 ciirus, but small scales on the body only ; on the tail, which is very thick, 

 they are large, pointed, and carinate; the head is covered with plates. 

 Their form is somewhat short, and flattened, more like that of certain 

 Agamce than of a Polychrus. 



The most common species, Agama tuberculoma, Spix, XV, 1, or 

 Tropidurus torquatus, Pr. Max. J, is ash-coloured, sprinkled with 

 whitish drops, and has a black semi-collar on each side of the neck. 

 It inhabits Brazil. 



Oplurus, Cuv. 



Teeth of a Polychrus, and the form of an Agama, but no pores on the 

 thighs, and the pointed and carinated scales of the tail ally it to that of a 

 Stellio; the dorsal scales also are pointed and carinate, but very small. 

 One species only is known. 



Opl. torquatus, Cuv. (The Black -collared Grey Quetzpaleo§). 

 A black half- collar on each side of the neck. From Brazil. 



* It is a mistake to believe, on the authority of Seba, that this species is the Basi- 

 lisk of the Indies. 



f Add, Pol. acutirostris, Spix, XIV. 



X The Tropidurus of Pr. Max. de Wied. is not, as he imagined, the Quelzpaleo of 

 Seha, although it is also marked with black semi-collars. 



§ The name of Quetzpaleo, given by Seba to the above species, seems to be a cor- 

 ruption of the Mexican Aqua quetz pallia, which appears to be a name of the Iguana; 

 the Quetzpaleo of Lacep., Kept. 4to. II, 497, is a Uromastix; but the figure quoted 

 is that of Seba's animal. 



