THE 



FLYING DRAGON. 



Generic Character. 

 Body four-footed, tailed, and winged; 



Specific Character. 



DRAGON with the fore-legs unconnefted with 

 the wings. 



It is merely in being furnifhed with a lateral expand- 

 ed membrane, ftrengthened by a few radii, or bony 

 proceffes, that this animal differs from the Lizard tribe; 

 lb that it might, without impropriety, be named the 

 Flying Lizard. Linnaeus however, in his celebrated 

 work, the Syftema Naturae, has iniiituted a diftintl 

 genus for it, under the title of Draco or Dragon. 



This animal is an inhabitant of Africa, and like ma- 

 ny other of the fmaller Lizards, delights in wandering 

 about trees, and from the peculiar mechanifm of its la- 

 teral membranes, is enabled to fpring from bough to 

 bough, and fupport itfelf in air for a moment or two, 

 in the manner of a flying Squirrel. Like other Li- 

 zards, it feeds on infefts, and it is not improbable that 

 the remarkable gular pouch with which it is furnifhed, 

 may be a provifion of Nature, for retaining for fome 

 time, a number of fmall infefts which it may colleft, 

 to be afterwards fwallowcd more at lcifure. 



This 



