276 



REPTILES. 



[Chap. IX. 



- . 



limited power of 

 respiration, which 

 justifies the ac- 

 curate picture of — 



" The green lizard, rustling thro' the 

 grass, 



And up the fluted shaft, with short, 



quick, spring 

 To vanish in the chinks which time 

 has made." 1 



The most beautiful of the 

 race is the green calotes 2 , in 

 length about twelve inches, 

 which, with the exception of 

 a few dark streaks about the 

 head, is as brilliant as. the 

 purest emerald or malachite. 

 Unlike its congeners of the 

 same family, it never alters 

 this dazzling hue; whilst 

 many of them possess, but 



1 Rogers' Pcestum, 



2 Calotes sp. 



GALOTES OPHIOMACHUS 



