50 



THE COMMON CORDYLE. 



the rest of the same family, feeds on insects, which it catches by suddenly springing on them 

 as they repose from their aerial excursions or crawl along the ground. Like most Lizards, it 

 is rather variable in coloring, but the general tints are as follows. The back and upper parts 

 are olive, sometimes deepening into bronze. Along each side run two bands of pale yellow, 

 and between the bands are sundry black spots, also arranged in lines, but varying in form, 

 size, and number, according to the age of the individual. The under parts are white. 



QiTiTTiNn the true Lizards, we come to another family of reptiles, called the Zonurid?e, 

 or Band-tailed Lizards, because the scales of the tail are arranged in regular series or rings, 

 and by tlieir overlapping cause the edges to stand out boldly in whorls. Along the sides of 

 these reptiles runs a distinct longitudinal fold, covered with little granular scales, and the 

 eyes are furnished with two valvular lids. 



The Common Zonurus, or Rottgh-scaled Cordyle, is a native of Soiithern Africa, and 

 very plentiful at the Cape, where it may be seen among the rocks or in sunny localities flitting 



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KOOGH- SCALED CORDYLE.— Zonurus cordylus. (One-halt natural size.) 



from spot to spot mth some speed, though not exhibiting the singular activity which is pos- 

 sessed by many of the smaller Lizards. It is chiefly remarkable for the curious aspect of the 

 taU, with its whorls of spike-tipped scales, which looks as if a number of thimbles had been 

 deeply notched round their edges and then thrust into one another. 



There is a somewhat similar reptile called the Common Cokdyle {Cordylus polygonus), 

 but it may be distinguished by a peculiarity of structure wliich has caused it to be placed in a 

 different genus. In the members of the genus Zonurus, the eyelids are opaque, as is generally 

 the case, but in the genus Cordylus there is a smooth transparent spot in the centre of the 

 lower eyelid. 



The foi'm of the Rough-scaled Cordyle is rather stout and flattened, as accords with the 

 comparative slo^vness of its movements. In color it is variable, but the usual tints are orange- 



