NATURE'S REALM. 
and gives vent to a threatening blowing sound. 
The whole aspect of the reptile, taking its great 
size into consideration, is now quite sufficient 
to keep the best of us at bay at first, and the 
moment it is let alone it takes the opportunity 
to make off again, usually in another direction. 
My two specimens seem to be quite attached 
to each other, and are never so well satisfied as 
when curled up together in a sunny corner of 
their cage ; I am unable from their external 
characters to determine their sex, and this will 
only be possible later on, when we come to ex- 
amine into their structure. 
These lizards are, too, very fond ot basking 
in the hottest of noonday suns, and I have. sat- 
isfied myself that upon these and other occa- 
sions, when I have closely watched them, they ° 
possess to a certain extent chameleonic powers, 
for I have observed the orange part of their 
scaly armor pass from that color to a decided 
salmon tint and vice versa, remaining normally, 
however, at some shade of orange or yellow. 
When thus sunning themselves they have a 
habit of stretching their limbs backward, even 
to the extent of having the feet with their dor- 
12> 
sal aspects in contact with the ground, the 
palms and soles being directed upward. 
They will then close their eyes and lay in this 
position for hours at a time. So far as their 
physical strength is concerned, it seems to be 
about equal to that of young alligators of a 
corresponding size ; they do not, however, pos- 
sess the power of striking a blow with the tail, 
enjoyed by the latter reptile. And in getting 
over rough ground, where branches, large 
stones, or other obstacles stand in the way, 
Heloderms evince no little patience, ingenuity, 
and downright obstinacy in overcoming such 
barriers to their progress. By a series of sim- 
ple experiments I have been enabled to satisfy 
myself that the senses ot sight, smell and hear- 
ing are all quite acute in these reptiles, and 
they are also sensitive to the sense of touch. 
As to their general intelligence, however, or 
such mental attributes as they may be pos- 
sessed of, I have made nospecial investigations, 
but from my casual observations I am inclined 
to believe that they stand rather above the- 
average reptile in both of these respects. 
* * * * *¥ 
