OCR Text |
Show 30 REPTILIA. on the temple. This singular Saurian appears to belong to India. The GoNOCEPHALus, Kaup. Is closely allied to Lophyrus; the cranium also forms a sort of disk by means of a ridge which terminates in a notch above each eye. There is a dewlap and a crest on the neck. The tympanum is visible. ( 1) LYRIOOEPHALus, Merr. In addition to the characters of a Lophyrus, the species of this subgenus have a tympanum concealed under the skin and muscles, like that of the Chameleon: they also have a dorsal crest and a carinated tail. In the species known, Lyrio margaritaceus, Merr.; Lacerta scutata, L.; Seb. cix, c, the bony crest of the eye-brows is still larger than in the Ag. gigantea, and terminates behind, on each side, in a sharp point. Large scales are scattered among the small ones on the body anrl limbs; imbricated and carinated scales on the tail; a soft, though scaly enlargement on the end of the muzzle. This truly singular species is found in Bengal and other parts of India.(2) It feeds on grain. BRACHYLOPHus, Cuv. Small scales; the tail somewhat compressed; a slightly salient crest on the neck and back; a small dewlap, a series of pores on each thigh, and, in a word, a strong resemblance to the Iguance; but they have no palatine teeth; those of the jaws are denticulate. Such is L'lguane a bandes, Brong., Essai et Mem. des Sav. Etr. I, pl. x, f. 5. From India. It is a deep blue, with light blue bands. (1) Isis, 1825, I, P· 590, pl. iii. (2) From this Lyriocepltalus, the PNEUSTES of Merrem and the PIIRYNOC.EPHA· Lus of Kaup, Fitzinger forms a family called PNEUSTOIDEA, which he approximates to that of the Chameleons. The Pneustes depend altagether on a vague and imperfect description of Azzara, II, 401, on which, also, Daudin had established his .!lgame d,queue prenante, liT, 440; Azzar. says that its ear is not visible, probably because it is very small. The l>nYNOCEPnA:i.us is composed of the Lac. guttata and the Lac. uralensis, Lepechin. Voy. I, p. 317, pl. xxii, f. 1 and 2, which form but one species. Kaup asserts that it has no external tympanum (Isis of 1825, I, 591). Not having seen these animals, I hesitate as to their classificati01,. Another subgenus will probably have to be made of the Lezard a oreilles (Lac. aurita, Pall.), Daud., 111, xlv, remarkable for the faculty it possesses of inflating the two sides of the head under the ears: I have not, however, been able to examine it. SAURIA. 31 PHYSIGNATHus, Cuv. The same teeth, scales, and pores; the head very much enlarged behind, and without the dewlap; a crest oflarge pointed scales on the back and tail, which is strongly compressed. Ph. cocincinus, Nob. is a large species from Co chin China; blue, with stout scales, and some spines on the enlargements of the sides of the head. It lives on fruit, &c. lsTIURus, Cuv.-LoPHURA, Gray.(l) The distinguishing character of this genus consists in an elevated and trenchant crest, which extends along a part of the tail, and which is supported by high spinous apophyses of the vertebrre; this crest is scaly like the rest of the body; the scales on the belly and tail are small, and approach somewhat to a square form; the teeth are strong, compressed, and without dent\culations: there are none in the pa· late: there is a series of femoral pores. The skin of the throat is smooth and lax, but without forming a dewlap. Lac. amboinensis, Gm.; Le Porte-Crete, Lacep.; Schlosser, Mono g., cop. Bonnat. Erpet. pl. v, f. 2. The crest confined to the origin of the tail; some spines on the front of the back; lives in water, or on the shrubs about its shores; feeds on seeds and worms. We have discovered in its stomach both leaves and insects. It is sometimes found four feet in length. Its flesh is edible. .. DRAco, L.(2) The Dragons are distinguished at the first glance, from all other Saurians, by their first six false ribs, which, instead of encircling the abdomen, extend outwards in a straight line, and support a production of the skin, forming a kind of wing that may be compared to that of a Bat, but which is not connected with the four feet; it acts like a parachute in supporting them, when they leap from one branch to another, but has not sufficient power to enable them to (1) I have changed this name of Lophura, which is too much like that of Lophyrus. (2) The term rf'pt£~t.r.>Y, draco, generally designated a large Serpent; Dragons, with a crest or beard, are spoken of by ancient writers, a description which can only apply to the Iguana; Lucian is the first who mentions Flying DragatUJ, alluding, no doubt, to the pretended Flying Serpents treated of by Herodotus; St Augustine, and other subsequent authors, ever after described Dragons as having wings. \ |