178 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



erect spines which rise along the back-bone of male speci- 

 mens, and also by the presence of a rounded tubercle or 

 plate on each side of the head. This is a brightly colored 

 Iguana, having bars of green, gray and black. It is strictly 

 arboreal, and evinces stronger herbivorous habits than spe- 

 cies of the allied genera. A large male specimen is seven 

 feet long, but much of this length is taken up by the grad- 

 ually tapering tail. In South America — on the Orinoco, at 

 least — this species is considered edible, and the writer can 

 tesify that to a hungry man its flesh is excellent. 



The very popular Horned "Toad," (Phrynosoma) , of the 

 southwestern states, of which there are eight or nine species, 

 should be mentioned if for no other reason than to place 

 it where it belongs — with the lizards, and not with the 

 toads. 



The Tegus, (genus Tupinambis), are powerful lizards, 

 growing to a length of four feet, and inhabiting tropical 

 South America. They are fleet of foot, mainly carnivorous 

 and very quarrelsome. It is impossible to keep any but the 

 larger lizards in the yard with them. Tegus are fond of 

 eggs, breaking the shell at one end and lapping up the con- 

 tents by means of the very broad, forked tongue. They will 

 also eat raw beef. 



The Australian Monitor, ( Varanus gouldii) , is a good rep- 

 resentative of a genus of large and powerful lizards con- 

 fined to the Old World, where they occur in India, Malaysia, 

 Africa and Australia. Monitors grow to a length of eight 

 feet. They are swift runners, entirely carnivorous, and 

 usually dwell in thick jungles. They are able to swallow 

 entire an animal as large as a half-grown rabbit. All are 

 fond of eggs, swallowing them without breaking the shell, 

 which is soon dissolved by the powerful gastric juices. 



Other Lizards. — "Within the main halls of the Reptile 

 House will be found various representatives of the smaller 

 Lizards, a few of which may be mentioned. 



The beautiful, emerald-colored Green Lizard, (Lacerta 

 viridis), of Europe, is not only a handsome species, but it is 

 also one of the most satisfactory to keep in a vivarium — a 

 good feeder and always posing. 



The famous Glass "Snake," {Ophiosauris ventralis), is im- 

 portant because its resemblance to a snake is so perfect 

 it is generally mistaken for one, although a true lizard. It 



