MODERN DRAGONS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 239, 6 July 1931, Page 2

MODERN DRAGONS

Prehistoric Reminders MONSTER - REPTILES ' Dragons are still sufficiently popular in art to prove that tho belief in them has died a comparatively recent . death. Some excuse may exist for the furtive respect they 'are still accorded because ninny monsters of tho past and numerous living reptiles suggest “dragons” to even the crudest imagination. Ono of the most dragon-like of living reptiles, the giant lizard of Komodo, was discovered comparatively recently, and in 1926 two Bft. long specimens were obtained for the London Zoo from the Island of Komodo, which lies between Flores and Sumbawa. Jn the capture of the dragons special traps were built, baited with dead pigs, and so arranged that a lizard, on seizing the food, was hoisted in the air by a nooso attached to a sapling. . Numerous specimens were thus obtained, but even when, as was thought, they were securely caged, a few contrived to escape, exerting enormous strength. These reptiles, which grow to over 12ft. in length, are able to dismember a fair-sized hog, and one was reported to have attacked and severely injured a pony. Like most lizards, however, they usually make off when disturbed, cither into the jungle or the sea, where they show themselves powerful, if clumsy, swimmers. In captivity they may become very tame. - - .

Not long ago. the presence of a living Sft.-long dragon at the British Zoological Society’s scientific meeting caused a thrill among Fellows who arrived prepared to study a stuffed oi- pickled exhibit- The dragon, which was exhibited by the society’s curator of reptiles, was not kept in a cage, but was allowed to walk about the floor of the room. “Sumbawa,” as the giant lizard is called, did not give a moment’s anxiety, and entertained its audience by devouring a large chicken, a pig, and half-a-dozen eggs while its custodian was discoursing on its temperament and habits, “Sumbawa” not only follows its, keepers about the reptile house, but is taken for walks in the gardens during tho summer months. The majority of modern, lizards are far below the Komodo dragon’s standard, but a few make up for their diminutive size by such grotesque habits and lavish fantastic, armature as to compare favourably with tho most terrific monsters ever depicted' on ancient tapestry. The little flying dragons of the Malay Archipelago not only wear, elaborate crests and wattles, but have large expansions of the ribs which bear gaily-coloured membranes that can bo. expanded at will. By means of these they can plane from branch to branch. Even more extraordinary is the frilled lizard of Australia. Although only about a yard long, it resembles a veritable dragon by reason of the large frill surrounding the neck. Wiien excited this is extended like an Elizabethan ruff nearly lOin, across. At the same time the animal opens wide its jaws, disclosing a. saffron yellow mouth. Most impressive of all modern dragons are probably the diminutive horned lizards of the United .States and Mexico. Tiie head, and often the sides, of these little lizards bristle with long spines, and were the animal 12ft. long instead of only a few inches it would rival the long-dead stegosaurs in both build and armature. Their habit when suddenly molested of squirting tbin jets of blood, fine as a hair, from the corners of each eye is’ peculiar. The jets may be ejected to a distance of 6ft.