. Animal studies. 200 ANIMAL STUDIES Both pairs of limbs are absent, but by wriggling movements of the body this lizard is able to force its way through light soil with considerable rapidity. It is a matter of some difficulty to secure entire specimens, for with other than the gentlest handling the tail severs its connection with the body, as the vertebras in this portion are extremely brittle. This peculiarity, together with its shape, has given it the popular name of glass-snake. Many species of liz- ards will thus detach the tail, a habit which is a means of protection, enabling the animal
. Animal studies. 200 ANIMAL STUDIES Both pairs of limbs are absent, but by wriggling movements of the body this lizard is able to force its way through light soil with considerable rapidity. It is a matter of some difficulty to secure entire specimens, for with other than the gentlest handling the tail severs its connection with the body, as the vertebras in this portion are extremely brittle. This peculiarity, together with its shape, has given it the popular name of glass-snake. Many species of liz- ards will thus detach the tail, a habit which is a means of protection, enabling the animal to scamper away into a place of safety while its enemy is concerning itself with the detached member. Later on a new tail develops, though usually of a less symmetrical form. 187. Horned toads.—The horned toads (Phrynosoma) are lizards peculiar to the hot, sandy deserts and plains of. Fig. 116.—Gila monster {Heloderma suspectum). One-third natural size, Mexico and the western United States. The body is com- paratively broad and flat, almost toad-like, and is covered with scales and spines of brownish and dusky tint, so like dried sticks and cactus spines in form and color as to ren- der them difficult of detection. In captivity they readily. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931; Kellogg, Vernon L. [from old catalog].
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjordanda, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1903
