AGAMIDAE 527 



A young specimen of U. acanthinurus has been observed to 

 grow within twelve months from 90 to 150 mm. in length. 



Moloch. — The mouth of this peculiar-looking creature is very 

 small ; the lateral teeth of the upper-jaw are implanted horizon- 

 tally and directed inwards. The body is much depressed, and, like 

 the short tail and head, is covered with small scales or tubercles 

 intermixed with large spines. M. horridus, the only species, 

 inhabits the sandy districts of Western and Southern Australia. 

 Xothing is known about its habits except that it seems to live 

 upon ants. Its extremely rough skin is, according to an acci- 

 dental observation by Dr. Willey, highly hygroscopic. He 

 happened to put a live specimen into a shallow dish with water, 



Fig. 129. — Moloch horridiis. xf. 



when, to his surprise, the water was sucked up as by blotting- 

 paper. 



Liolepis. — The body is depressed, without a crest, and is 

 covered with minute granular scales. The tail is long, and has 

 small keeled scales. There is a strong transverse gular fold, and 

 a fold along the side of the body. The tympanum is distinct. 

 Pemoral, but no pre-anal, pores are present. 



L. helli, the only species, about 18 inches long when full 

 grown, is a native of South-Eastern Asia. The general colour is 

 brownish, with pale black-edged spots along the back ; the sides 

 are marked with black and orange vertical bars ; the under parts 

 are orange, variegated with blue. Annandale remarks that this 

 is perhaps the commonest lizard on the barren stretches of sand 

 in Lower Siam, especially near the coast. It is exceedingly 

 active and timid. Though its colour is brilliant, the green and 



