MONITORY LIZARD. 



215 



is marked with various streaks of the same colour, 

 the limbs with very numerous round spots, and the 

 tail with broad, distant transverse bands. In others 

 the spots forming the lateral bands are simple in- 

 stead of annular; and in others the annuli or 

 white rings are themselves composed of small 

 white spots, which are likewise often scattered 

 here and there over the black ground-colour. The 

 ground-colour in some, instead of being black, is 

 of a deep ferruginous brown. All, however, ^gree 

 so far in the general disposition of the variega- 

 tions, that it is not easy to mistake the species for 

 any other. 



This elegant animal is a native of South Ame- 

 rica, where it frequents woody and watery places, 

 and, if credit may be given to the reports of some 

 authors, is of a disposition as gentle as its appear- 

 ance is beautiful. It has even gained the title 

 of Monitor, Salvaguarda% &c. from its pretended 

 attachment to the human race, and it has been 

 said that it warns mankind of the approach of the 

 Alligator by a loud and shrill whistle. 



VAR. ? 



Lacerta Varia. Variegated Lizard, White's Journ. of Voy. to 

 New South Wales, p. 253. pi. 38. Nat. Misc. pi. 83. 



So nearl}^ does this animal approach to the for- 

 mer, that it may be doubted whether it should not 



* These names are also applied by some authors to different 

 ^eciesj as the Teguixin, &c. 



