REPTILE LIFE IN CAPTIVITY. 9 



imported we may mention the Monitors, these f;re 

 usually long and lithe looking and somewhat 

 suggestive of the Ophidia. The head is flattened 

 and elongate, and armed with sharp teeth. A 

 curious power is possessed by this group, or to be 

 correct, especially noticeable in this group, and it is 

 that they seem to be able to bend their jaws when biting, 

 so that when one gets hold of a finger the anterior portion 

 of the jaw is not thrown out of action; and they hold 

 on most determinedly and give a very serious bite. 

 They will also fight amongst themselves. Their food 

 consists of meat, small mammals or birds. 



The tuberculated Iguana is a very handsome species 

 of a bright leaf-green colour with darker marks which 

 are white edged. They feed best, in captivity, on 

 bananas, and require a branch to climb on. Like the 

 Monitors, they are not above using their long whip-like 

 tails as weapons of offence or defence. 



The Mastigures are found in India and N. Africa, 

 and have compressed bodies which are covered with 

 small scales like grains of sand. Their tails are armed 

 with formidable spines. 



As a rule, they are difficult to keep, but this summer 

 I kept several in a heated case in a small conservatory, 

 to which the sun had full access. The temperature used 

 to go up to 100° F. ; and all fed ravenously on cabbage 

 and lettuce, and they drank water freely. Their 

 activity in this heat was wonderful. 



The Geckos, being nocturnal, are seen best at night, 

 when they will run up the glass sides and darl about 

 after insects with great rapidity. The pretty little 

 Anoles have some power of changing their colour, but 

 not nearly as much as the Chameleons. 



The stump-tailed Australian lizard (Trachysaurus 



