The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Frill-Lizard

FRILL-LIZARD, a large Australian lizard (q.v.) (Chlamydosaurus kingi) of the family Agamidæ, so called in allusion to the erectile collar or ruff about its neck. This broad membrane is supported on each side of the neck by slender rods from the hyoid bone which extend to its margin like the sticks of a fan; and like a fan it may be folded close against the shoulders or spread until it stands up all around the back part of the head; but this erection can be accomplished only by opening the mouth widely, and always accompanies a stretching apart of the jaws. The exterior of the frill is of the general grayish-brown of the animal's body, but its interior or front is scarlet; and when it is suddenly spread in the face of an enemy behind the open hissing mouth, it is calculated to astonish and frighten the attacker in no small degree, as seems to be the purpose of the structure. These lizards are six to eight inches long plus a long, lashlike tail. They spend their time on trees and logs, searching for the beetles which constitute their principal food; and have an extraordinary manner, when in haste, of rising and running upon their hind legs alone. Consult Kent, W. Saville, ‘The Naturalist in Australia’ (London 1897).