Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/452

 BftPrLA.] .' NATURAL HISTORY. Respecting this remarkable lizard, Mr. journal oontuins the following rumrks. "I secured a lizard of extraordinary appearance, which had perched itseJf upon the stem of a small decayed tree. It had a curio/s crenated membrane like a ruff or tippet round its neck, covering its shoulders, and when expanded, which it ws enabled to do by means of transverse s!nder cartilages, spreads five inches in the form of an opeu umbrella. I regret that my eagerness to secure so interesting an anhnal did not admit of sufficient time to' allow the lizard to shew by its alarm or irritability how far it depended upon, or what use it made of, this extraordinary membrane when its life was threat- -eed. Its head was rather large, and eyes, whilst living, rather prominent; its tongue, although bifid, was short and thick, and appeared to be tubular."---Cn/jham Captain King informs.me, that the co[our of the tongue end inside of the mouth was yellow. �Tupinmbis vsrlegstus, D#d. Rf. iij. 7. Monitor bigurr, Ct. Ra,..uh. ij. M. This spedes, better known to English Dealers under the name ot 7  �,,'d, is peculiar in having the two series of the scales, placed on the upper part of the centre of the tail, raised into a bJserrated ridge, and in the outer toe, or rather thumb, of the hinder-foot being long, and reaching to the panultlmate distal joint of the first or longest toe; the claws are compressed, sharp. specimen for the Appendix of my work. The pIse was engraved by Mr. Curtis, fr an exceedinE!y correct dr6wing made by my .friend, Henry C. Field, Ft.--l'. P. a.

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