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 hands 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. 



Quitting the true Lizards, we come to another family of reptiles, called the Zonurida?, 

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

 and by their 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 Zonttrus, or Rofoh-scaled Cordyle, is a native of Southern Africa, and 

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



ff«lp '■ / 





ROOGH-SCALED CORDYLE. — Zoiuii -lis arrdijlus. lOne-hall natural size.) 



from spot to spot with 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 

 tail, 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 Cordyle {Cordylus polygonus), 

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

 different genus. In the members of the genus Zonuxus, 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 form of the Rough-scaled Cordyle is rather stout and flattened, as accords with the 

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



