File:Image from page 289 of "Introduction to zoology; a guide to the study of animals, for the use of secondary schools;" (1900) (14598382430).jpg

Identifier: introductiontozo00dave Title: Introduction to zoology; a guide to the study of animals, for the use of secondary schools; Year: 1900 (1900s) Authors: Davenport, Charles Benedict, 1866-1944 Davenport, Gertrude Anna Crotty, 1866- Subjects: Zoology Publisher: New York, Macmillan company London, Macmillian and co., ltd. Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library

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Text Appearing Before Image: FIG. 251. —Phrynosoma, the horned toad. Photo, by E. R. D. cross bands above, with iridescent colors on the throat ofthe male, and with large, strongly keeled scales and aslender tail. The largest of the Iguanidse is the leguan *of the West Indies and South America, which gains alength of 1.75 metres, or over five feet. The family Varanidae,2 or water-lizards, contains thelargest known lizards. The Nile varanus attains a lengthof nearly tAvo metres. It lives on the rivers of Africa,feeds on small Crustacea, birds, birds eggs, frogs, fish, andoccasionally also on young crocodiles and crocodile eggs. 1 Fig. 251. 2 Latinized from the Arabic word waran, lizard. 270 ZOOLOGY The ancient Egyptians regarded these crocodile-like lizardsas the greatest enemies of the crocodile. The Lacertidae,1 which are common in middle and south-ern Europe, are agile, harmless creatures, often of brightcolors, and are commonly and favorably known. The more

Text Appearing After Image: FKJ. 252. —Lacerta viritUx, the green lizard of Europe. After Brehin. abundant are the green lizard (Fig. 252), the sand-lizard, and the wall-lizard of the Latin countries. The Helodermidae include the largest lizard of theUnited States, the so-called kt> Gila monster, which in-habits New Mexico, Arizona, and the country southward.The lizard is colored brown, with reddish spots and numer- 1 From lacerta, lizard. THE LIZARD AND ITS ALLIES 271 ous yellowish punctatipns (Fig. 253). It is nocturnal inits habits and its bite is very poisonous, although not oftenfatal to man. The family Anguidae, or slow-worms, includes the famousglass-snake or joint-snake of the South. This snake-likelizard has no legs, or only rudiments of the hinder pair.It is noted for the ease with which it breaks in two when

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