LIZARDS 
175 
by poultry-farmers, who frequently organise a “ gooana ” hunt for its special destruction. If 
surprised out in the open, the quarry at once rushes for a tree, and manifests the most remark- 
able agility in “ swarming ” up the smooth, massive trunk, and in dodging round to the side 
opposite to that on which the sportsman approaches. Not infrequently, trees being remote, 
the monitor will make for what appears to its apprehension the best substitute for one — 
vis. the upright figure of the nearest sportsman. Should this happen to be' a “ new chum ” 
enjoying his maiden essay in “ gooana ” hunting, he will undoubtedly experience a new 
sensation as the animal, with its sharp cat-like claws, unceremoniously scrambles up to his 
head and shoulders. 
Brought to bay, a monitor pos- 
sesses a more formidable weapon 
than its teeth and claws wherewith 
to repulse the onslaught of the 
enemy. The long, tough, thong- 
like tail — not brittle and replace- 
able, as in many other lizards — 
is converted, for the time being, 
into a veritable stock-whip, where- 
with it will most severely punish 
incautious aggressors who venture 
too near. The potency of this 
offensive and defensive weapon is 
fully recognised by the reptile- 
keepers at the Zoo, who freely 
admit their reluctance to enter 
the cage of one of these large, 
long-tailed, but conversely very 
short-tempered monitors. All of 
the monitors, in consonance with 
their pre-eminently carnivorous 
habits, are more or less savage and 
intractable. The several species 
which have fallen within the writer’s 
cognisance proved no exception to 
the rule. An Egyptian example, 
injudiciously introduced to the select society of his extensive miscellaneous collection in 
a heated greenhouse, proved to be a veritable wolf in the fold, killing several of the 
choicest specimens before its vindictive propensities were detected and arrested. A com- 
paratively small and rare spiny-tailed monitor, brought by the writer, in company with 
the frilled lizards, to England from North-west Australia, would harass and bite any other 
lizard placed with it, and resent every friendly overture on the part of its owner, even 
after so much as a whole twelvemonth’s persistent attempts to tame it. Another, the 
South Australian monitor, or lace-lizard, was no exception to the rule, and had to be 
maintained in solitary confinement. This particular specimen, nevertheless, evinced, as the 
following anecdote will show, a very pronounced affection for its provided quarters. One 
day it effected its escape from the wire-enclosed cage with which it was accommodated in 
the writer’s Brisbane garden, and after prolonged but unsuccessful searchings it was given 
up for lost. Considerable astonishment was naturally experienced some ten days later, 
when the animal was discovered in the garden making frantic attempts to regain access 
to its former prison-house. During its ten days’ absence it had evidently fallen upon evil 
times, for not only was it in a very emaciated condition, but also bereft of its long and 
handsome tail. Apparently, after the manner of its tribe, it had been manifesting a too warm 
by (V, Savillg Kent^ 
HORNED TOAD 
Tiis species is highly prized for its insect-destroying proclivities 
