CHAPTER XLII 

 ORDER OF LIZARDS 



LACERTILIA 



OF all the world's reptiles, the lizards are the most elu- 

 sive, and the most difficult to know personally. With 

 the exception of the large iguanas, monitors and a very few 

 others, the vast majority of the species are tiny creatures, 

 lightning-quick in movement, and very much opposed to 

 being caught. 



And the little sprites are difficult to keep in captivity, 

 beyond all other reptiles. Being children of the sun and 

 sands, they demand quarters that are of desert dryness, 

 roasting heat, and flooded with sunshine. Without these 

 conditions they refuse to eat, and quickly die. If every 

 student of lizards had a private desert which he could keep 

 heated up to 100 degrees, a sun all his own to shine upon 

 it sixteen hours a day, and meal-worms without limit, it 

 would be quite possible to keep small lizards long enough 

 to become well acquainted with them. Without such an 

 equipment, the path of the student is beset with difficulties. 



Because of these conditions, we will introduce here only a 

 very few of what we may call the practicable lizards, — those 

 which it is possible to know, and worth while to note. 



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