86 THE STELLIO, OR HARDIM. 



" We rejieatedly tried the courage of tliis Lizard, and it certainly fouglit bravely when- 

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

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

 age should be applied." 



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

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



The general color of the Frilled Lizard is yellow-ljrown mottled with black, and it is remark- 

 able 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 nans 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, short and nicked at the end. It is rather a large species, measuring when 

 full grown nearly a yard in total length. 



IjV the genus Grrammatophora, the head is three-sided, and rather flattened, Avith a 

 sharpish muzzle. There is no throat-poucli, but the skin of the chest is folded into a Idnd of 

 cross plait. The tail is long, conical, rather flattened at the base, and covered with over- 

 lapping keeled scales. All the members of this genus inhabit Australia. 



The Mukicated Lizard, or Grammatophore, is a native of New Holland. It is almost 

 arboreal in its habits, being seldom if ever seen except on trees, which it traverses with 

 remarkable agility, being quick, sharp, and dashing in its movements. It feeds on insects, 

 and is enal^led to catch them as they settle on the leaves or branches. It also eats caterpillars, 

 grubs, and other larvge, which it can find in profusion among the lioughs. 



The coloring of this Lizard is rather variable. Generally the back is brownish-gray, 

 traversed by sundry brownish bars, runnihg longitudinally on the body and transversely 

 upon the legs and tail. Upon the nape of the neck and the back run a crest composed of 

 triangular comj)ressed scales, having two or three similar rows of pointed scales at each side. 

 Upon the sides of the nape are rows of triangular keeled scales, and the sides ai-e covered with 

 little compressed scales intermixed with large keeled shields. The toes are long, and the two 

 central ones are much longer than the others. This is a small Liziird, only measuring when 

 f uU grown about fourteen inches. 



The Stellio, sometimes called the Hardim by the Arabs, is a well-knoAvn Lizard inhaliit- 

 ing Northern Africa, Syria, and Greece. 



It is a very active little creature, haunting the ruins of ancient dwellings, heaps of stones, 

 rocks, and similar localities, among wliich it flits from spot to spot with ceaseless activity. It 

 has a curious habit of bending or nodding its head dowaiwards, a movement which is greatly 

 resented by the stricter Mahometans, who are pleased to consider the Lizard as offering an 

 insult to their religion by imitating them in their peculiar actions of prayer. The more 

 religious among them, therefore, take every opportunity of killing the Stellio, blending amuse- 

 ment, piety, and destructiveness with a happy appreciation of their several merits, earning a 

 good position in Pai-adise on easy terms, and consoling themselves for the present dearth of 

 infidel heads by slicing ofl* those of the unbelieving Lizards. 



The Stellio lives almost entirely on the various insects that flit about the sand, and its 

 qiack, rapid movements are needed to secure its prey. A kind of cosmetic was anciently made 

 from this reptile, and even at the present day the Turks employ it in the offices of the toilet. 



The color of the Stellio is olive-green above, clouded with black, and the under jiarts are 

 yellow, sometimes tinged with green. There is no crest upon the nape of the neck, and the 

 scales of the tail are rather large, and arranged in distinct whorls. There is no decided throat- 



