THE D END ROSA UR A, OR TREE LIZARDS. 
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universally allowed to be the most terrible-looking creature on the face of the earth. Many 
reptiles are spiny in different parts of their bodies, but this creature, appropriately termed 
the Moloch, bristles like a hedgehog with sharp spikes, which project both above and below 
in such profusion, that this Lizard almost seems to have been formed for the purpose of 
testing the number of effective spikes that can be planted on a given space. The creature is 
all spikes, and thorns, and projections. Upon the top of the head two very large spikes are 
seen, projecting from each eyebrow, and on the back of the neck is a large rounded protuber- 
ance, covered with little spiny scales, and having one long projecting spine on each side. On 
the back, the arrangement is very curious. A number of long spines are scattered at intervals 
MOI.OG’H . — Moloch itonidw. 
over the surface, each of which is surrounded by a circle of lesser spines. It is worthy of 
notice that these large spines are hollow, and fit upon protuberances of the skin much in the 
same way that a cow’s horn is sheathed on its core. The whole head and limbs are covered 
with spines similar in formation, but smaller in size. The tail is covered with long, sharp, 
spiny scales, arranged in whorls, and boldly radiating from their centre ; and even the toes are 
covered as far as the long, sharp claws, with boldly keeled scales. The general color of this 
reptile is palish yellow, spotted regularly with brown above, and below with dark red blotches 
edged with black. The Moloch is a native of Australia. The natural size of this creature is 
given in our engraving. 
TREE LIZARDS ; DENDROSAURA. 
The last tribe of the Lizards contains but one genus and very few species. Prom their 
habit of constantly living on trees, these creatures are called Dehdrosatjra, or Tree Lizards. 
In these, the scales of the whole body are small and granular, and arranged in circular bands. 
The tongue is very curious, being cylindrical and greatly extensile, reminding the observer of 
a common earth-worm, and swollen at the tip. The eyes are as peculiar as the tongue, being 
