A larger species from Ceylon and southern India is also called “blood¬ 
sucker,” because its head and neck turn red when it is excited. This reptile, 
Deraniyagala reports, attains a length of two feet. 
Another colorful species is known from Turkestan and is remarkable 
for the extreme variations of its colors. The usual color scheme is brown 
above with dark markings, and white or light brownish below. The whole 
body may turn a dirty white, black or grayish-brown. Red may appear in 
patches and lines on the males, and in larger patches on the females. The 
male can show blue stripes, and sometimes can become blue altogether. 
These color changes are not protective, for the brighter the sun shines, the 
more conspicuous does the lizard become. 
Agama stellio, found in southwestern Europe, Asia Minor and Egypt, 
is killed by pious Mohammedans because they believe it to be mocking 
their prayers as it nods its head, runs, stops, and nods again when pursued. 
It is also exhibited by snake-charmers. The liardim, as it is called locally, 
reaches a length of fifteen inches; it has large neck folds, and its back is 
covered with spines. The ancient Greeks called it korkodilos. 
SPINY-TAILED LIZARDS 
Ranging throughout the deserts of North Africa, Arabia, Persia, Syria and 
northwest India, the spiny-tailed lizards, or mastigures, have a heavy tail, 
covered with strong spines. They have small, smooth scales on their body 
and head. These lizards spend their nights and cool days in burrows, which 
are sometimes as long as four feet. When danger approaches, they dart 
inside their burrows. When once their forefeet and heads are inside, they 
will allow themselves to be pulled apart rather than emerge. The Arabs 
esteem their flesh as food, alleging that it tastes like chicken. 
When first made captive these lizards were observed not to drink 
water, and consequently they did not long survive. Then it was accidentally 
discovered that the mastigures absorbed their moisture from the air through 
the skin. After that an artificial spray was devised to give the same effect 
as desert dew and when so treated they thrived. These lizards usually 
measure not more than a foot and a half in length. 
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