92 
These are all small and harmless, many of them living among 
trees and feeding upon worms, insects, &c. They exist in 
great profusion in the dry regions of the southwest, bordering 
on Mexico. 
The iguanas belong to this order. Some species attain 
a length of four and five feet; pass most of their time in 
trees and live on fruit and birds’ eggs. They inhabit tropical 
America and the West Indies, where they are considered as 
very good eating by the natives. 
A number of these have been exhibited in the collection, 
among them the Naked-necked Iguana (/. delicatissima ), 
the Common Iguana (/. tuberculata ), the Black Iguana 
{Metopoceros cornutus), and the rare Clouded Iguana (Cyclura 
nubila). 
Among other lizards in the collection are the Bengalese 
and Egyptian Monitors (Varanus bengalensis and V. nilot- 
uus), the last sometimes reaching a length of seven feet; 
Hardwick’s Mastigure ( Uromastix hardwicki ), from India, 
the Dragon-like Lizard ( Draccena guianensis ), from the 
forests of the Amazon, and the curious Slow Worm ( Anguis 
Jragiiis) of Europe. 
The chameleons are found in the warmer portions of 
Europe, Asia, and Africa. In some species the head is orna¬ 
mented by elevated crests and ridges; in all of them the 
power of changing color to accord with their surroundings is 
much developed. 
An animal most repulsive in appearance is the Gila Monster 
{.Heloderma suspectum ), from Arizona. For a long time its 
reputed venomous qualities were in doubt, but recent research 
has fully demonstrated their existence, although the animal 
seems little inclined to use its power offensively. It and an 
allied species from Mexico are the only lizards known to be 
poisonous. 
The Glass Snake (Ophisaurus ventralis) of the south¬ 
ern United States and the Dalmatian Glass Snake (( 9 . 
apus ) from Europe are lizards resembling snakes in appear¬ 
ance, being destitute of legs. 
The Tuatera of New Zealand ( Sphenodon punctatus ) is 
the only remaining member of an extinct order, Rhyncho - 
