168 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



the undergrowth, away from danger. The species is an 

 expert swimmer, employing the long tail in a series of 

 undulatory motions while the limbs are kept folded 

 against the sides. 



The Kabara-goya is one of the most interesting of 

 reptiles in captivity. Its feeding habits are typical of 

 all the species. The methods of attacking a small ani- 

 mal resemble more the actions of a warm-blooded animal 

 than of a reptile. Rushing for the ill-fated creature 

 at a gait rapidly overtaking it, the lizard seizes the prey 

 and shakes it in the same violent fashion as a terrier 

 treats a rat. If the animal's struggles become so violent 

 its escape is rendered possible, the reptile holds it to the 

 ground under its strong claws— as long as those of a 

 fair-sized leopard — while the jaws take a better hold. 

 Then the shaking process is renewed. The prey is soon 

 dead. If it is small the monitor tosses it about in the 

 jaws until the head points down the victor's throat. 

 It is then swallowed in the same fashion as exhibited 

 by an owl in bolting a scrap of meat or a mouse; that 

 is, by a series of quick reaching gulps. Should the 

 quarry be heavy and large, it is dropped to the ground 

 after the struggles have ceased. The monitor rests a 

 moment, wiping its jaws with the enormously long 

 tongue. With perfect deliberation it begins an inves- 

 tigation of the prey, poking it here and there with the 

 snout, finally seizing it by the head, when the swallowing 

 process begins, in this case prolonged and difficult, but 

 it is possible for a big monitor to swallow an animal as 

 large as a two-third grown rabbit, entire. 



A fine example of the Kabara-goya has hved in the 

 Reptile House of the New York Zoological Park for the 

 past five years. It is often given a full-grown, freshly- 

 kiUed pigeon, which is, with little difficulty, swallowed 



