THE BASILISK. 



119 



and a silvery white underneath. On the throat are larger bands of 

 brown, and on each side of the eye is a white ray bordered with black, 

 which is lost upon the back ; and the tail is so remarkably attenuated 

 towards its extremity as to show the articulations of the vertebrae 

 beneath. 



[According to Mr. O. Salvin, the Basilisk is very common about 

 Lanquin, in the province of Guatemala, where it may frequently be 

 seen on the lower branches of bushes, and it is particularly foiid ot 

 basking on the boughs of a felled tree near a stream. In some speci- 



Fig. 2 8.— Hooded Basilisk. 



mens of the males, we are informed, the tail is much more compressed 

 than in others. In a series of the young the crest is shown in all 

 stages of development. We also learn from this naturalist that, not- 

 withstanding the compressed form of its tail, the Basilisk does not 

 habitually enter the water, as most writers have supposed. 



The sub-family of Anoles (Anoliiiuz) have mostly the skin of their 

 toes widened (under the ante-penultimate phalanx) into an oval disc, 

 striated crossways underneath, which enables them to attach them- 

 selves to various surfaces. They do not attain the large size of the 

 Iguanas; and the habits and characteristics of the various species 

 inhabiting Jamaica are thus vividly described by Mr. P. H. Gosse in 



