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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6

Sauria.—Lizard-Tribe

Sauria.—Lizard-Tribe.

The Lizards of Australia are very numerous, and are distributed over every part of the country; a few species also inhabit Tasmania, and two kinds Lord Howe Island. We are indebted to Dr. John Edward Grey, F.R.S., for the first systematic catalogue of our reptiles; and his list of Lizards is still the standard guide for students. Dr. Gray enumerates 129 species, which number must have greatly increased since the list was published. To give even short descriptions of each kind is impossible in the present paper; but some characteristics will be pointed out, so that an idea may be formed of this numerous tribe of animals.

Lizards live chiefly in tropical and semi-tropical climates, and prefer dry sandy or rocky open scrub country to luxurious forests; none are venomous.

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The largest grow to 30 feet; others do not exceed a few inches in length; their diet is varied, and supplied by both the animal or vegetable kingdom; in fact, we remember a fine large New Guinea species which subsists principally on leaves. Our Sleeping-lizard, "Cyclodus gigas," is very fond of certain berries called "jee-bungs," and during the season is often filled with them. Lizards do not reject dead animals like the Ophidians, and are therefore excellent scavengers.

The greater number lay eggs generally with a soft skin or shell, and of irregular form, which they deposit under stones, exposed to the sun, among the decaying leaves of the stag-horn fern, under bark or sand, in crevices of rocks, and in other places where heat is generated, and the embryo brought to maturity. No Saurian has ever been noticed to incubate her eggs like the Bock-snakes or Pythons. Nearly all the Lizards found in Australia are peculiar to the country.