Lizauds. REPTILES. TTiick-ioa'gued Lizaiids. 
30 
exsorted, and give support to the wing-like lateral 
expansions of the skin ; a long tail, and live free hat 
nneqrial toes on each foot. The species are all of a 
small size and very harmless. They are found living 
in the bosoms of the forests which cover some of the 
burning regions of Africa and a portion of the large 
islands of the Indian Ocean, particularly Java and 
Sumatra. T heir wings are capable of being folded up 
and developed like a fan, at the will of the animal. 
In a state of repose they are horizontal, but when 
expanded they support the body like a parachute, when 
the creature leaps from branch to branch. They 
have not sufficient power, however, to strike the air 
and elevate it like a bird. Their food consists of 
insects, which they pursue with dexterity and quickness, 
and may almost bo said to take them on the wing. 
They appear to have no objection to the water, as they 
have been seen swimming in a river at some distance 
from land. 
THE COMMON FLYING LIZARD {Draco volans) 
is the species most frequently met with, and the best 
known. The colour of this animal is of a uniform green- 
ish hue, with the exco[)tion of the wings, whitdi are of a 
very pale brown, and are each of them marked with four 
transverse brown bands, fringed at their sides with little 
white points. Bontius tolls us that this pretty little 
reptile, which is common in the island of Java, inflates its 
yellowish goitre wh")! it flies, that it may be more light 
in the air, without, however, being able to traverse any 
great space. It only shoots from ti'ce to tree, a distance 
of about thirty paces, and produces b}' the agitation of its 
wings a slight noise. It is a native also of Borneo and 
the Philippine islands. 
THE LINED FLYING LIZARD {Dracunculus Ihicaf ns), 
the species represented in Plato 2, fig. 4, is much rarer 
than the former, and is found in the great woods of 
the islands of Java and Amboina. Its habits are, we 
believe, mucli the same as the common species, but, 
being rare, the animals have not been much observed. 
In this species the drum of the ear is hid under tlie 
skin, whilst in the other it is exposed — hence it now 
forms a separate genus, under the name of Dracunculvs. 
The Ci{ESTi':i) Lizards {Loplmrce) belong to this 
group also. These reptiles are remarkable for the 
crest which they possess, which extends from the 
head to the extremity of the tail, and is supported 
throughout its length by long rays. The toes are 
long and are furnished on each side with a margin 
of horizontal scales, which scales are so developed in 
the hind feet as to form a sort of web or first expansion. 
THE CRESTED LIZARD OF AMBOINA {Loi^lmra 
Amhoinmsis) is a handsome sj)ecies, and often attains 
a length of three or four feet. It was first described by 
Schlbsser as a native of Amboina, and it is also found 
in Java and the Phillipine islands. It is the represen- 
tative in Asia of the Basilisk of .America, and has by 
several authors been described as a species of that 
genus. It has a small throat pouch, with a lax (old of 
skin in froiit of the neck, and the tail is nearly three 
times as long as the body. It is of a green colour, with 
black lines above and white beneath. This reptile- 
frequents the neighbourhood of large rivers, climbing 
the trees growing on their banks, and there passing its 
time tranquillj', feeding upon fruits, seeds, small worms, 
and insects, and depositing its eggs in the sandbanks 
and little islets of the rivei', as if it sought to ])lace them 
there in safet 3 '. It is a timid creature, easily alarmed, 
and flies at the least appearance of danger, without 
making any attempt to defend itself. Should the river 
be near it plunges into it, swimming with ease and 
rairiditjq and hastening to conceal itself under (he rocks 
and stories. The flesh is said to be very good, superior 
even to that of the Guana, and hence the natives hunt 
them with aviditj'’ for the purpose of using them as 
food. They follow them into the water, and when laid 
hold of the poor creatures makes no attempt at defence, 
and utter no cry. “ This mildness of disposition,” s.ays 
Laedpede, “ has by many been called stupidity ; but 
how often have not quiet and unostentatious qualities 
been designated by that name!” 
We have mentioned that two or three genera of these 
arboreal Agamas are natives of Australia. One of the 
most curious of these is the Fuili.ed Lizard (C/ila- 
mydomuruH), which has neither the crest on the back or 
tail, or cheek pouches, but has the neck furnished with 
a large plaited membrane on each side, expanded like 
a broad frill. The edge of this frill is serrated, and the 
whole of it is covered with small keeled scales. The 
frill increases iii size, out of proportion to the size of the 
animal, as it becomes older. When young, it does not 
reach to the base of the fore limbs, but in the adult it 
becomes much fuller, and reaches considerablj' be^mnd 
the armpit. 
KING’S FRILLED LIZARD {Chlamydosmirns Kinffii), 
the only species known to exist, is a native of Bort- 
Essington, and of a fulvous colour, varied with brown. 
The head is of a pyramidal form and short; the 
tail is long and tapering. Little is known of this 
curious lizard, but it was observed by Sir George Grey, 
in his travels in Australia : — ‘‘ As we were pursuing 
our route in the afternoon,” he says, “ we fell in with a 
specimen of the remarkable F rilled Lizard. This animal 
measures about twenty-four Inches from the tip of the 
nose to the point of its tail, and lives principall}' in trees, 
although it can run very swiftly along the ground. 
When not provoked or disturbed it moves quietly about, 
with its frill lying back in plaits upon its body; but it 
is very irascible, and, directly it is frightened, elevates 
the frill or riilfs, and makes for a tree ; where, if over- 
taken, it throws itself upon its stern, raising its head 
and chest as high as it can upon the fore legs, then 
doubling its tail underneath the body, and disjilaying a 
very formidable set of teeth from the concavity of its 
large frill, it boldly faces any opponent, biting fiercely 
whatever is presented to it, and even venturing so far 
in its rage as to fairly make a fierce charge at its enenqv. 
We repeatedly tried the courage of this lizard, and it 
certainly fought bravel}' whenever attacked. From the 
animal making so much use of this frill as a covering 
and means of defence for its body, this is most probably' 
one of the uses to which nature intended this appendage 
should be applied.” 
Amongst the members of the second group, or the 
terrestrial species, are the true Agamas (Ayamiiiu), 
which give the name to the whole family. The name 
Agama is derived from a word used by the colonists of 
