37^ Marvels oi the Universe 



scarcely fail to be more or less conspicuous. Generally, ho\ve\-er, these lizards partiall}' bury them- 

 selves in the sand when in repose. 



The Spinv Lizard, which is the sole representative of its kind, is a relative of the Stellion Lizard 

 of Southern Europe, which, although not unlike the smaller British Lizards in general appearance, 

 represents a separate family. From all the others of its own family the Australian species is broadly 

 distinguished, not only by its protective armour of spines, but likewse by the very small size of 

 its mouth, and b^' the wall of teeth which crown the summit of its upper jaw being inclined inwards 

 instead of standing vertically. 



Possibly some of my readers may be led to imagine that the Spiny Lizard is a diminutive survivor 

 of some of the giant reptiles of former epochs of the earth's history, which were likewise armed with 

 formidable spines, or spines and vertical plates, on their heads, bodies and tails. But there is one 

 important difference (to say nothing of others) between the two : namely, that whereas in the giant 

 extinct species — Dinosaurs, as thev are called — the spines consist of bone, covered presumably in 

 life with hollow horny sheaths, like those of cattle, in the Spiny Lizard they consist cf horn alone. 



Pholol.y] IW.SaviUe Kent. 



SPIN^' LIZARDS. 



It is no uncommon sight to see two or three of these Lizards sunning themselves on the top of a sand-dune. They have a 

 limited power of changing colour to harmonize with their surroundings. They partially bury themselves when in repose. 



There are, however, in the warmer parts of North America certain small lizards, locally known 

 as Horned Toads, which present a remarkable resemblance in general appearance to the Spinj' Lizard, 

 having their heads, bodies and tails similarly covered with horny spines — albeit somewhat differently 

 arranged. So close, indeed, is the resemblance between the two that it might be imagined that 

 they were near relations ; the shortness of the head from which the American species derive their 

 name of toads being a feature of little importance. But the resemblance is only skin-deep, for 

 the Horny Toads have teeth attached to the sides of the jaws, in the manner characteristic of the 

 almost exclusively American family of Iguanas [I don't want to be told that iguanas are found 

 in India and Africa, as, in spite of popular opinion, they are not], and it is to that group that they 

 belong. 



The resemblance between the Spiny Lizard and the Horny Toads is thus in a certain sense 

 accidental (although nothing in Nature is really so), and may be due to the same special need for 

 protection from birds and other enemies. 



Another feature common to the Spiny Lizard and the Horn}' Toads is the e.xtreme flatness or 

 depression of their bodies, this being a characteristic of lizards which dwell on the ground, as 

 distinct from those dwelling in trees, which have very thin or laterally compressed bodies, as is 



