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8. Notes on the Reptiles and Fishes of the Sahara. 

 By the Rev. H. B. Tristram, F.L.S. 



Uromastix spinipes, " Ed B'Abb, " Arab. 



Long since described by Freytag, " Lacerta Libyca sen Arabica, 

 genus distinctiore corpore et cauda, eademque esculenta, et ob carnem 

 delicatiorem expetita." 



It also attracted the notice of Leo Africanus, who gives a long 

 and somewhat tedious account of its habits (vol. i. p. 307), mingling 

 some Ai'ab fables with his own observations. 



It is found throughout the whole of the Algerian and Tunisian 

 Sahara, but is most common in the south, living either in holes of 

 the rocks, or in burrows of its own in the sand. I have seen speci- 

 mens measuring 2 feet in length. Its colour during life is grass- 

 green (of a darker hue in the young, but very bright in the adult), 

 spotted with brown, and paler under the belly. When provoked and 

 irritated the adult's bright hue becomes rapidly darker. It is a very 

 inoffensive creature, and moves very slowly and awkwardly, with the 

 gait attributed to the crocodile, and turns its head from side to side 

 with great caution as it walks. Its tail forms its weapon of defence, 

 and it uses it with effect on any pursuer. It seldom bites, but when 

 it does, nothing will induce it to relinquish its grasp. It is almost 

 impossible to force its mouth open. It never drinks. The Arabs 

 believe that water is certain death to it. 



It is frequently kept in confinement for fattening among the Beni 

 M'zab, who consider it very good eating. I found it really very 

 palatable when stewed, not unlike tender chicken. I kept several 

 for some time, and one in particular, which became familiar and 

 showed attachment to those whom it recognized, I also saw one 

 kept in an artillery barrack in Algiers, who recognized his owner's 

 voice, and would come to him, climb up his body, and nestle on his 

 shoulder. It appears to be neither strictly noctui-nal nor diurnal in 

 its habits, but mine always basked in the morning sun, and retired 

 to sleep in the shade about noon. I have often watched my special 

 pet asleep both by day and night, with his nose and fore feet resting 

 against the wall, his hind-feet hanging down, and the tail stiffened, 

 supporting the body, which was nearly perpendicular to the floor. 



The D'Abb has no cry, and, as far as I could observe, lives on 

 friendly terms with individuals of the same species. The Arabs 

 declare that it is a match for the Horned Viper (Cerastes), which 

 often enters its holes, but soon has its vertebrae dislocated by the 

 vigorous blows of the D' Abb's prickly tail. 



My specimen fed generally on insects, and was an adept at catching 

 flies, but it would also eat several plants, and among these Peganum 

 harmala, and Tragopogon crocifolius, which seemed its favourite 

 vegetable. 



SciNCUS officinalis, " FFout el bet'," " Land-fish," Arab. 

 " Cherchiman," " Choromcham,'''' Berber, are the collective names. 

 The male is distinguished in Arabia as " Zanarout," the female as 



