REPTILES 301 



kept as much as possible in the sun. The usual food is meal 

 worms, but insect larvae should be given when obtainable. 



The largest lizards of the Western Hemisphere are the 

 Iguanas, great, powerful creatures, sometimes reaching 

 a length of six feet. Most of the species are ornamented 

 with a row of dorsal spines, the body usually being of vary- 

 ing shades of green, sometimes marked with black. The 

 commonest species is Iguana tuherculata, inhabiting prac- 

 tically all of tropical America. Although chiefly vegetarian 

 in habit, it is also a fierce hunter of birds and small mam- 

 mals. On many occasions the writer has observed this 

 creature in the act of stalking young birds among the 

 branches of trees, and the skill with which it insinuated 

 itself within striking distance of its unsuspecting victim be- 

 lied its reputation as a strict eater of vegetable food. When 

 disturbed it will leap to the ground from a considerable 

 height, and rush off at high speed through the underbrush. 

 This species often is found in the hands of dealers. It lives 

 well in captivity, and if kept warm will thrive on a diet of 

 lettuce, tomatoes and other soft vegetables, with the addi- 

 tion of a little chopped meat or a young sparrow. 



The Glass "Snakes" (Ophisaurus) seem to the tyro 

 to form the " missing link " between the snakes and lizards, 

 since they lack all trace of external limbs. So far as loco- 

 motion goes, they are snakes, but the. movable eyelids, 

 lizard-like head and shining scales stamp them as lizards. 

 O. ventralis is the only American species, found from North 

 Carolina to Mexico. It is hardy in captivity, and feeds 

 on insects, chopped meat and raw eggs. 



The true Chameleons, of which there are a number of 

 species, are found chiefly in Africa. Chameleon vulgaris 

 is the best known form. In corflmon with some other 

 lizards, they possess the faculty of rapidly changing the 

 body color, an accomplishment which has made them fa- 



