A ZOOLOGICAL ERROR 
there should be a type which has contracted the most 
striking likeness to a chameleon. The agamoid 
chameleon is Lyriocephalus scutatus, the iguanoid 
mimic Chameleolis. The latter has been an inmate of 
the Reptile House but not the former. 
THE TEGUEXIN. 
The scientific name of this South American lizard, viz. 
Tupinambis teguexin, is due to a curious error. The 
traveller, Marcgrave, speaking of the lizard, remarked 
that it is named Teyu-guaco, and, among the Topin- 
ambos, Temapara ; after reading this, Seba, the collector 
of “curiosities,” jumped at the conclusion that what 
Marcgrave meant by Topinambos was the name of the 
lizard itself. The name got into zoology, and the rule 
in zoology is a stern one as to priority ; so we must per- 
force give to the lizard the name of the tribe, thus revers- 
ing what sometimes happens when an Indian individual 
or tribe is called by the name of an animal. The Teguex- 
ins or Tupinambis are a group of lizards containing a vast 
number of species all confined to America, and most of 
them to South America. There are usually to be seen 
at the Zoo examples of the two species, Tupinambis 
teguexin and Tupinambis mgro-punctatus. They grow 
to some size, and are bluish, variegated with yellow 
marks. For some reason or other they have been con- 
founded with the monitors of the Old World to which 
they have not the very faintest structural resemblance. 
In fact, no two groups of lizards are further apart than 
these two. However, they both love the water, and are 
somewhat fierce. In fact, the Tupinambis is said to 
emulate the bull-dog in the tenacity with which it will 
hold on toany aggressor. The name of “safeguard ”’ has 
been applied to these lizards, on the supposition that 
like the monitors they will warn of the proximity of a 
crocodile. They are strong and swift, and lash out with 
240 
