, 1893-05-27

and snakes but the Monitor, q very i7tsS
and handsome lizard approaching the size OF
the hllf-grown orooodiles, is perhaps inc
mot remarkable sgg-swallower OF the tribe:
1t bolts the eggs unbroken, and the oval
morsel may be watched in its slow descent
down the long neck until it disappears IN tho
lower regions. Many of the small lizards
in the house are almost unmatched for the
quaintness of form, and beauty Of colouring,
among the inhabitants OF the Zoo. III"
chameleons have not survived the cold or
winter, and the summer stoc,R has not you
arrived 20 take Their place, as most OF those
brought from the Cape die when the vessels
enter the cold atmosphere of the English
Channel. But the 'horned lizards OF Cali
fornia are hardly less amusing III form AMI
habits than the true chameleon shape
like a minia IRE sole, their backs bl listing
with pinkish spikes like the thOrns eof d
briar-rose, they bury themsel es AZ the SAND
st the potion of Jnetr cage until the head
only projects, presenting An exact ressln-
bIance to one of the thorny 'burrs" which lie
scattered on the Californian desert. II possible,
the lizard remains still until the spiders AIN
other insects walk unGuspsctlng lntolts mouth;
but at the Zoo, whore insects are scarce,
the horned lizards have to some extent Rban-
doned oonoealment, aud rush upon their prey
with a suddenness and fsrooity most amusing
III such tiny ctsatures. The writer watched
violent contest between a horned lizard and'a
"geck0" for the possession of a msslwOrm
which was wriggling on the sand The
''gecko." one of the swift and agile little
lizards which are so common IN southern
Europe, was darting down from a branch
above Just as the horned lizard made it's spring
and each seized the mealworm at opposite
ends. In the tug-of-w war which followed, the
ground lizard proved an easy winner; and the
''gecko' retired defeated, to finish pulling Oh
ito old skin, which hung loosely round its
shoulders like a Jacket. The cast skin, which
was of all exquisite, seml-transparent grey
colour, like hat of a moonstone, was pulled
of by the lizard in long strips, by the aid Of
iS teeth and feet. The toads perform this
operation in a far neater manner, pulling
their cast skin over their heaIs with their
hands, as a footbaIl-player strips OF his Jersey.
Perhaps the tamest, If not the most beautiful
among the smaller reptiles, are tue odd little
palIn-Iizarts which have recently arrived at
the Zoo. They are vegetable feeders, and
their appetite for cabbage-leaves is so Keen.
and the diet supplied 50 liberal, that after a
hearty meal they resemble a WeIsluned oval
pin.cushion with a small lizards head, feet,
and tail attached to the padding. Yet, even
in this colditiom, they are READY 20 eat II
fresh food be offered 10 them, st,ung content
eddy IN the visitors hand, and .sw, mag Vlsl-
hly q, they mnucu their c'obaae, Ike bho
lady WAC excited the aIallu ot Nh. Neller,
seutoI, ut he temperance tea. A uoar
neighbour OF the pain. ,lzards ls me existing
type Of he nnpOat0r IrU1 Wno trlSd to lu1Hts
himself to the size OF the outlook, according
TO the t die. Esp 5 i %, 40 louDt, uIed III
The e"unpo OF Lake COp,Is, and the strange
creata,c. wiuGA uAturaI,s.o nave nAulod tne
"ado. ned cstatophorus, but which 10 nothing
but an enormous tat round Carlcature VI a
frog, with q moutn wide enough to swallow u
young chlchen, lives in South America. Ills
ually habit 10 to D.tt5 htmselt Ia the looho
eartu where small u.i.uAA,a, Such do rats, mlcs,
other frogs, and tne ouh6 VI Stound-bhdS,
ducks or c%nlckens, are lIkeiy TO wander.
Half covered with dry earth, the tIog resem-
blss a patch Of greenlsh wet moss on wet mud.
The chicken OF at which approaches this is
immediately seized by the enormous mouth,
which opeus and shuts with % snap like the
back of a watch. Like other selfish and
greedy people, this frog is extremely. short
tempered and rssentful when its OWN comfort
10 intsrfered with; and when poked,i o
otherwise leased, swslls it's body out to, hearty
double it's original size, and slowly hops with
gasps aud growls after its toTmentor9 in "a
nf r,Oa and eYcItrmeuEv1VJ per0u,4H