LIZARDS 



569 



every day by taking them into 

 the garden and placing them 

 in communication with a 

 swarming ant track. By care- 

 ful observation it was found 

 that no less than from 1,000 

 to 1,500 ants were devoured 

 by each lizard at a single 

 sitting. The ant-devouring 

 proclivities of these prickly 

 little lizards can no doubt be 

 turned to very useful and 

 effective account in clearing 

 ant-infested domiciles, and 

 were in fact thus utilised by 

 the writer on more than one 

 occasion. 



I'hiM bj tV. SavilU-Kenl. F.Z.S, 



AUSTRALIAN WATER-LIZARD 



This lizard h of aquauc habits^ and runs on its hind legs ivhen tra'versing long distances 



The lizards included in the Agama Family are essentially inhabitants of the Eastern 

 Hemisphere, none occurring in America. In the western continent, however, we find an 

 equally extensive but structurally distinct group which presents many singularly corresponding 

 types. This family comprises the true IGUANAS, many of them of considerable size, and a 

 numerous assemblage of smaller forms. Among those species which present a striking parallel 

 in size and aspect to the peculiarly characteristic Old World Agamas, mention may be made 

 of the little so-called HoRNED TOAD, or Spiny Lizard, of California. This species might 

 readily be taken by the uninitiated for a near relation of the Australian Moloch Lizard, or 

 Mountain-devil, last described, its flattened .diminutive form and bristling spiny armature 

 seemingly justifying such a supposition. The crucial test afforded by the character of the 

 dentition, however, distinctly indicates its true position to be with the Iguanas. In the Agamas 

 the teeth are invariably developed from the apex, or summit, of the jaw. These teeth, 

 r- ^ moreover, are varied in character. 



:,, _ . j In the Iguanas, on the other hand, 



the teeth are all more or less uni- 

 i - form in character, and are attached 



to the outer sides of the jaw. 



The larger iguanas are, for the 



most part, exclusively fruit- and 



I vegetable-feeders, and arboreal in 



their habits. The thick forest scrubs 



in the vicinity of streams and rivers 



are their favourite resort. After the 



manner of the Australian water- 



: lizards, these Iguanas are expert 



! swimmers, and delight in lying along 



i (he overhanging branches, whence 



! at the slightest alarm they can pre- 



] cipitate themselves into the water 



1 beneath. When swimming, the 



fore limbs are folded back against 

 the sides, the tail only being used 

 as a means of propulsion. Sev- 

 eral of the larger Iguanas, such 

 as the common or tuberculatcd 



Phito bt IV iaiillt Aint, F Z S 



AUSTRALIAN WATER-LIZARD 



Shonvin^ attitude ivhen running 



