Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 8, ELE-FOR

296 E II P E T
Lizafds, tliey are fo difpofed as to produce an agreeable and
v—'> pleafing effea. This fpecies is a native of South
America, inhabiting woody and marfhy places.
It is faid that the monitory lizard, from the gentle-
nefs of its difpolition, is remarkable for its attachment
to mankind, warning them of their danger from the alli¬
gator by emitting a peculiar and ftirill found.
Var. Lacerta Vana, Variegated Lizard. Although
this lizard is fomewhat different in colour, and in the
xlifpofition of its variegations, which are rather of a ^ale
yellow than white, yet it is confidered only as a variety
of the preceding. It is a native of New Holland.
ii. Lacerta Acanthura, Spine-tailed Lizard.
Specif. Char.—Throat plaited beneath \ body covered
with minute fcales j tail long and verticillated with
carinated triple-fpined fcales.
The length of this fpecies is: about a foot and a half.
The head is covered with fcales, which are fmall and
nearly lix-fided } it is quite dillinft from the body. Ihe
whole fldn about the neck, throat, and beginning of the
fides, is quite loofe, which in the fpecimen defcribed,
• may have had a pouched appearance. All the other
parts of the body are covered with very fmall fcales.
The tail is very long, and ftrongly marked into nume¬
rous rings, which are compofed of long and ftrongly
carinated fcales, each of which terminates in alengthen-
-ed point, and produces the fpiny appearance. There
are five long toes on each foot j the claws are ftrong
and (harp. The colour on the upper parts of the body
is glaucous, variegated with fmall whitifh clouds and
marblings.
It is defcribed by Dr Shaw from a fpecimen in the
3ritifh Mufeum.
12. Lacerta Lophura, Lizard.
Specif CVwr.—Body covered with diflimilar fcales j
back ferrated ; tail long, and fomewhat comprefied.
This is a very large fpecies ; there are large, rounded,
-and oval fcales fcattered here and there among the
fmaller ones. The tail is long and {harp-pointed ; the
back and tail are ferrated throughout their whole
length.
This fpecies is alfo defcribed by Dr Shaw from a fpe-
cimen in the Britifti Mufeum.
O L O G Y. Chap. I
The general appearance of this fpecies bears fome re- Lizards,
femblance to the guana, and ftill more to the horned Y
guana, in having the appearance of a pair of {harp
pointed horn-like proceffes above and beyond each eye j
between thefe are placed fome aculeated fcales. The
fize of one which has been defcribed, meafures from
I 2 to 16 inches, from the tip of the nofe to the extre¬
mity of the tail.
Tt is a native of Afia, and of fome of the Indian iilands.
15. Lacerta Scut at a, Scutated Lizard.
Specif Char.'—Tail of moderate length, compreffed •,
dorfal future dentated ; two.pointed proceffes on the
back of the head.
This fpecies is diftinguifhed from the former by hav¬
ing a proportionally larger head, and a row of feales
more elevated than the reft, pafting over each eye j and
from thefe a ridge is continued towards the back of the
head, where they unite and extend down the middle of
the back, in form of a ftrort denticulated creft, to the
beginning of the tail. The body is covered with acu¬
minated fcales which are but fmall j the limbs and tail
with larger ones.
It is a native of the ifiand of Ceylon.
16. Lacerta Principalis, Smooth Crefed Lizard.
Specif Char.—Tail fubcarinated j gular creft plain
edge j back fmooth.
This fpecies is in general of a (lender form, and fmall,
rarely exceeding eight or nine inches in length, includ¬
ing both the body and tail. The colour is blue, the
head fmall, and the fnout taper.
It is a native of South America.
Var. Jjacerta bimaculata, Linn.
This is confidered as a variety of the former ; the co¬
lour is blue, fpotted here and there with black, with
two larger black fpots over the {boulders.
It is a native of St Euftatia, and is found alfo in
Pennfylvania.
Var. Le Roquet, of Cepede, is confidered by Dr
Shaw alfo as a variety of the fmooth-creftedjizard, as
it refembles it both in fize and habit ^ it is however
deftitute of the gular creft.
It frequents gardens, moving nimbly among treeSj
and devours great multitudes of fmaller infefts.
13. Lacerta Dracaena, Draccena Lizard.
Specif. Char.—Large tail; long and denticulated along
the upper part.
This is one of the largeft fpecies belonging to the
tribe. Not only in the fize of the body, but in the pro¬
portion of the limbs and tail, k exceeds that of the
guana. The colour is brown, with a flight (hade of
chefnut. On the outfides of the limbs there are nume¬
rous fmall pale yellowilh fpots. The head is fmall, and
the fnout tapering.
It is a native of South America, and fome of the
Indian iflands; and it is faid that in fome countries it
is preferred as an article of food to the guana.
14. Lacerta Superciliosa, Supercilious Lizard.
Specif Char.—Tail carinated j back and eyebrows ci¬
liated, with upright lanceolated fcales.
17. Lacerta Strumosa, Strumous Lizard.
Specif. Char.—Tail long, round ; breaft gibbofe, pro-
jefting.
This is of a fmall fize, has no dorfal ferratures, but
is furniftied with a large flat gular creft, of a pale red
colour ; the reft of the animal is of a pale bluilh gray,
with fome flight {hades of a more dulky hue. Ihe
limbs are {lender.
It is a native of South America.
18. Lacerta Marmorata, Marbled Lizard.
Specif Char.—Tail long, round; throat fubereftated,
back fmooth.
This fpecies is of a {lender and elegant form, and
meafures, including the tail, about a foot in length.
The