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Show 714 MR. W. SAVILLE KENT ON THE [Nov. 19, almost constitute a frill. It is on this account, in districts south of the habitat of Chlamydosaurus, not unfrequently associated with the corresponding popular name of the Prilled Lizard. With respect to the natural food of Chlamydosaurus, I observed of all the living specimens that came into m y possession that tbe excreta evacuated during the first few days after their capture consisted exclusively of the elytra and other hard parts of Coleoptera, such insects evidently constituting their customary food. One or two of the specimens captured would occasionally take a living cockroach, picking it up with the protrusion of its fleshy glutinous tongue. It was not found possible to induce any of the captured examples to take other than living food voluntarily, but on very slight provocation they would open their mouths, and on pieces of raw meat being then placed inside them they masticated and swallowed it with apparent relish, and throve for many weeks on this artificially substituted diet. Individual specimens of Chlamydosaurus exhibited a considerable diversity of temperament-some of them being exceedingly quiet, and others, males more particularly, most distinctly aggressive. One or two examples, when first captured, would, when approached, spring up and seize any presented object. What was more remarkable, however, was the general habit they manifested, if much excited, of standing at bay with open mouths and erected frills, uttering a hoarse, hissing noise, and lashing whip-wise at the intruder with their long, rough tails. The blows thus delivered were dealt with such vigour as to smartly sting the hand if exposed to the impact. The flagellating method of attack manifested by this Lizard no doubt proves very disconcerting to a foe previously unfamiliar with the animal's peculiar aggressive tactics. The habits of Chlamydosaurus were found to be essentially diurnal-all the specimens kept in captivity retiring to rest on the approach of sunset, usually choosing for this purpose a vertical position, head uppermost, at the side of their cage or on an introduced tree-stump. The living specimens exhibited some amount of individual variation in colour, and more especially with relation to the membranous frill. The lower moiety of this structure was always more brightly coloured than the integument of the general surface of the body, and, in the males more particularly, was ornamented with a mosaic-like pattern in which orange, vermilion, steel-blue, and shades of brown were variously inter-blended. These tints, unfortunately, usually fade out of preserved skins, but in some instances faint indications of their original variegation may be retained. The coloured illustration that accompanies this communication (see Plate X L L ) has been reproduced from a water-colour sketch from life made by me of a Koebuck Bay example, amalgamated with an excellent lithograph of the animal that appeared in the issue of the.'Field' quoted below. The most remarkable phenomenon concerning the habits of Chlamydosaurus that I have to place on record in this communication |
