THE SAVAGE WORGD. 
150 
this much-abused animal better, and close acquaintance establishes his innocence 
under all circumstances. The basilisk , full grown, is some three feet in length, 
his unsightly appearance being rendered more hideous by reason of a peaked 
crown he wears upon his head, not entirely unlike the regulation clown’s hat. 
His back, too, is not more inviting, for from the spinal column rise long dorsal 
spines like the fins on the backs of certain fishes. The tail is also similarly armed 
while the skin is rougher than shagreen. When excited, the animal distends 
his crown to surprising dimensions, at the same time raising his dorsal spines, 
which give to him 
a grueful and hor¬ 
rible aspect, quite 
enough to stimu¬ 
late credulous peo¬ 
ple to the creation 
of fables such as 
those just men¬ 
tioned. 
The Frilled Liz¬ 
ard ( Chlamydosau- 
rus kingii ) is about 
the same size as the 
basilisk, and its 
skin is also similar, 
but the resemblance 
is not carried fur¬ 
ther. This lizard 
is a native of Aus¬ 
tralia, where it is 
quite common, and 
its habits well 
known, since no su¬ 
perstitious awe is 
manifested for it. 
The adult lizard 
would look very 
much like our com¬ 
mon species of wood lizard, but for a most curious appendage which grows 
about his neck, and from which is derived his popular name. Concerning this 
animal Captain Grey thus writes: 
“As we were pursuing our walk in the afternoon, we fell in with a specimen 
of the remarkable frilled-lizard. It lives principally in trees, though 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 the body; but it is very 
irascible, and, directly it is frightened, it elevates the frill or ruff, and makes for 
a tree, where, if overtaken, it throws itself on its stern, raising its head and 
chest as high as it can upon the fore legs, then, doubling its head underneath 
the body, and displaying a very formidable set of teeth from the cavity of its 
large frill, it boldly faces an opponent, biting furiously whatever is presented to 
it, and even venturing so far in its rage as to fairly make a charge at its enemy.” 
frilled lizard (Chlantydosauras kingii). 
