The New Student's Reference Work/Dragon

Dragon, the name given to a lizard found in the East Indies, about seven or eight inches long. The skin along the sides of the body, between the legs, is spread out into a kind of parachute, and, these animals, which live among trees, may be seen shooting through the space from tree to tree, with the parachute expanded. They feed upon insects. Their color corresponds pretty well to that of the bark of the trees, but they have little or no power of changing color. In ancient and medieval times the dragon was a fabulous monster, either a serpent or a hideous winged and clawed creature, guarding some treasure or spreading havoc by occasional visits, and against which gods, heroes and knights combated.

DRAGON