| Show many species of lizards but only two are poisonous found in mexico and U S many country dwellers imagine that the lizard is a horrible creature and destroy it on every occasion there are I 1 1700 species of lizards but only two are poisonous and as these are found in mexico and the southwestern south western united states state S we need not fear to handle any found in these islands writes oliver G pike in london tit bits magazine scientists say that all birds have descended from lizards this is hard to believe especially when we compare the magnificent bird of paradise of new guinea w with ith the repulsive looking gila mo monster anster of mexico but some lizards when disturbed are able to stand on their hind legs and run very swiftly in this position As althey they flee from their enemies the front legs are see seen n to swing backwards and forwards forwar ds while the tail is projected sti stiffly fil y behind to assist them to balance and in this position they resemble a bird in the malay countries we find a flying lizard the wings consist consisting ing of the outward extension x the ribs covered with skin when at rest they are able to bring the skin covered rib tn choir i 1 t tend them when they leap from one perch to another these wings would be more correctly described as gliders for they spread out almost like eke the wings oi 01 a small aeroplane supporting the lizard as it travels through the air one of the strangest things connected with lizards is their faculty of casting off their tails when annoyed shoula a lizard lose its tail it is not inconvenienced for long for it soon grows another some of the foreign species will grow as many as four enemies of thre lizard will stop to devour the tail left behind while the creature is escaping the largest number of lizards are found in tropical lands although every part of the globe ii occupied by them with the exception of the polar regions some are vegetarians the large members of the iguana family of tropical america being the most notable examples but the majority feed upon small insects worms and other live objects found on the ground many however will climb trees and are able to walk under branches with as much ease as a fly walking along a ceiling owing to their feet aebig |
