HAVE YOU A LIZARD?

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 32, 7 February 1931, Page 22

HAVE YOU A LIZARD?

Since tho Wild Nature Show in Melbourne Town Hall introduced them to thousands of people, lizards havo been in demand as pets. The more grotesque they aro in appearance the more they are favoured. Ladies like them, and many small geckoes and "blood-suckers" have quarters now in suburban1 bushhouses and conservatories, says the "Sun-News Pictorial." A. special lizard night has been arranged by. tho Field Naturalists' Club, when living specimens will bo exhibited. A talk on Victorian species will be given by the Director of tho National Museum (Mr. J. A. JCershaw), while other naturalists will describe the charm of lizards as pets. Scores, perhaps hundreds of bluetongued lizards have been taken into captivity. Well, they are hardly prisoners, since, in many eases, they have the liberty of yard or garden; often of the house! My own "Billy Bluetongue" lounges in the sitting-room or lazily roams through the ball. He flickers his brightly-coloured tongue and hisses at the Persian cat. Dogs and cats, as a rule, declino to be friendly with these reptilian pets, failing to understand thcii\ owners' queer taste. But reptilian pots have never boon more popular than they arc in Victoria now. An enterprising animal dealer has ordered a good supply of chameleons from Africa. "They'll sell like hot c.ikes," he is sure. I, too, nm confident that these "quick-colour-change" reptiles will find a ready sale in Melbourne. Consider their charms! The chameleon, slow-moving almost as a snail, ,has a darting clastic tongue, and, as a

NEW FASHION IN PETS

flycatcher, is unrivalled. My pot- vulgaris, from the Sahara, entertained, if, not crowned heads, at-least some notable'pcoplq, and many, everyday folks —my friends. Chameleons aro assured of a welcome into Melbourne 's pctland Moloch horridus, the "thorny devil," has long been famous. One could always buy fine specimens from the blacks at Ooldea a year or two ago. Tho supply is uncertain now. But, many passengers on.the trans-Australian train bring home a,"devil." The standard, aboriginal rpfico is, or used to be, a "Asehilljn," ■ ... .... • Barking geckoes are greatly desired by tliose who affect the quaintest kinds of pets. Unhappily, these delightful little lizards, whoso Bark is no Worse than their bite, take very unkindly to captivity. With rare exceptions, they re-fuse to eat, and the hunger strike is sure to be fatal. It is cruel to bring barking geckoes from" the wilds. Those long-tailed, lively grey lizards miscalled "blood-suckers" make engaging- pets. I have several in my bush-house. Of course, they are harmless. There aro about 400 kinds of lizards in Australia, all non-venomous. Indeed, only two of tho thousands of species in the world aro poisonous, and they belong to desert country in America. Still, some lizards may be harmful, because of their food habits chiefly. Avoid a goauua bite, and one from the frilled or bcardy lizard, the bluetongue, and stumpy-tail. A goanna bite wound may give trouble for months. Choose ono of tlic lesser kin«*~ if you will have a lizard as a pet.