order sauria. 137 



Oplurus Torquatus, Cuv. 

 With a black semi-collar on each side of the neck. 



The Anolis. Anolius. Cuv. 

 Have with all the forms of the iguanas, and espe- 

 cially of the polychrus, a distinctive character, very 

 peculiar. The skin of their toes is widened under 

 the antepenultimate phalanx into an oval disk, stri- 

 ated cross-wise underneath, which enables them to 

 attach themselves to different surfaces, where they 

 can also fasten very well, by means of very crooked 

 claws. They have, moreover, the body and tail 

 uniformly shagreened by small scales, and most of 

 them have a dewlap or goitre under the throat, 

 which swells and changes colour when they are 

 under the influence of anger or sexual desire. 

 Several of them are equal to the cameleon in the 

 faculty of varying the colours of their skin. Their 

 ribs unite in entire circles, as in the polychri and 

 cameleons. Their teeth are trenchant and denticu- 

 lated, like those of the iguanas and polychri, and 

 they even have some in the palate. The skin of the 

 tail has some slight folds or sinkings, each of which 

 comprehends some circular ranges of scales. This 

 genus appears to be peculiar to America.* 



* Anoli, or Anoalli, the name of these saurians in the Antilles. Grono- 

 vius has very gratuitously transferred it to the ameiva. Rochefort, from 

 whom he has taken it, gives as a figure of it, a copy of the Teyuaguaca of 

 Marcgrave, or the groat safeguard of Guiana. Nicholson appears to 

 announce that this name is applicable to many species, and that which he 



