Their Multitude within the Tropics—The Geckoes—Anatomy of their Feet—The Anolis—Their Love of Fight—The Chameleon5—Its wonderful Changes of Colour—Its Habits—Peculiarities of its Organisation—The Iguana7—The Teju—The Water-Lizards—Lizard1 Worship on the Coast of Africa—The Flying Dragon—The Basilisk—Frogs and Toads—The Pipa—The Bahia Toad4—The Giant Toad—The Musical Toad—Brazilian and Surinam Tree-Frogs.
The equatorial regions may well be called the head-quarters of the lizard race, as these reptiles9 nowhere else appear in such a multitude of genera, species, and individuals. The stranger is struck with their numbers as soon as he sets his foot on a tropical shore, for on all sides, on the sands and in the forests, on banks and rocks, on the trees and on the ground, innumerable varieties of lizards are seen basking10, rustling11, crawling, climbing, or rapidly darting12 along.
The Geckoes might even claim to be ranked among the domestic animals, as they take up their abode13 in the dwellings14 of man, where they make themselves useful by the destruction of flies, spiders, and other noxious15 or disagreeable insects, which they almost always swallow entire, their throat being as broad as311 the opening of their jaws16. During the day time they generally remain concealed17 in some dark crevice18 or chink, but towards evening they may be seen running along the steepest walls with marvellous rapidity, in keen pursuit of their prey19, frequently standing20 still, nodding with their head, and uttering shrill21 tones, most likely by smacking22 their tongue against the palate. Their flattened23 flexible body seems to mould itself into the hollows, in which they often remain motionless for hours, and their generally dull colour harmonises so well with their resting-places, as to render them hardly distinguishable, a circumstance which answers the double purpose of masking their presence from the prey for which they lie in wait, and from the enemies that might be inclined to feast upon them. Among these, some of the smaller birds of prey—hawks and owls—are the most conspicuous24, not to mention man, the arch-persecutor of almost every animal large enough to attract his notice.
GECKO.
How comes it that these nocturnal lizards, seemingly in defiance25 of the laws of gravitation, are thus able to adhere to ceilings or any other overhanging surfaces? An inspection26 of the soles of their broad feet will soon solve the enigma27, for all their toes are considerably28 dilated29 on their margins30, and divided beneath into a number of transverse lamellæ, parallel to each other, and generally without any longitudinal furrow31. From these a fluid exudes32 which serves to attach the animal to the surface. They are also generally provided with sharp and crooked33 claws, retractile and movable, like those of a cat, and which render them good service in climbing trees.
In spite of their harmless nature, the Geckoes, their real utility being forgotten over imaginary grievances34, nowhere enjoy a good reputation, probably in consequence of their ugliness and the wild expression of their large eyes. They are accused of tainting35 with a virulent36 secretion37 every object they touch, and of provoking an eruption38 on the skin merely by running over it—a popular prejudice which naturally causes many a poor inoffensive Gecko’s death. They abound39 all over the torrid zone, even in the remote islands of the Pacific, such312 as Tahiti and Vanikoro. Duméril, enumerates40 fifty-five different species, only two of which are indigenous41 in Southern Europe, while India monopolises no less than thirteen for her share.
Mr. Adams once witnessed in Borneo a desperate struggle between a Gecko and a large Tarantula spider. After a long and doubtful contest, the Gecko proved at length victorious42, and succeeded in swallowing the insect, whose enormous legs, protruding43 from the lizard’s mouth, gave the animal the look of some monstrous44 cuttle-fish.
The graceful45 Anolis are peculiar6 to America. By the structure of their feet, provided with long unequal toes, they are related to the Geckoes, but are distinguished46 from them by a more slender form of body, by their extremely long thin tail, and a large neck-pouch47, which dilates48 under the influence of excitement. These small and nimble creatures, the largest species seldom exceeding eight inches in length, are as touchy49 as fighting-cocks. On approaching them, they instantly blow up their pouch, open widely their diminutive50 jaws, and spring upon the aggressor, striving to bite him with their teeth, which, however, are too tiny to do much harm. Among each other they live in a perpetual state of warfare51. As soon as one Anolis sees another, he makes a rapid advance, while his adversary52 awaits him with all the courage of a gallant53 knight54. Before beginning the conflict, they make all sorts of menacing gestures, convulsively nodding their heads and puffing55 up their pouches56, until finally they close in desperate struggle.
‘The meeting of these champions proud Seems like the bursting thunder-cloud.’
If they are of equal strength, the battle remains57 for some time undecided. At length the vanquished58 Anolis turns and runs away, but he may think himself fortunate if he escapes with the loss of his tail. Many of them are thus deprived of this ornamental60 appendage61, which they voluntarily leave behind to avoid a still greater disaster, and then they become timid, melancholy63, and fond of retirement64, as if ashamed of being seen, only regaining65 their spirits when, by a wonderful power of reproduction, the amputated tail has been replaced by another.
Like many other lizards, the Anolis possesses the faculty66 of313 changing colour when under the influence of excitement, but of all animals, whether terrestrial or marine67, none is more famous or remarkable68 in this respect than the Chameleon. It frequently happens that man, not satisfied with the wonders which Nature everywhere exposes to his view, adds to their marvels69 others of his own invention, and thus many a fable70 has been told about the Chameleon. It has been said, for instance, that it could emulate71 all the colours of the rainbow, but the more accurate observations of Hasselquist and other naturalists72 have shown that the whole change, which takes place most frequently when the Chameleon is exposed to full sunshine or under the influence of emotion, consists in its ordinary bluish-ash colour, turning to a green or yellowish hue73 with irregular spots of a dull red. Like many other reptiles, the Chameleon has the power of inflating74 its lungs and retaining the air for a long time so as one moment to appear as fat and well-fed as an alderman, and the next as lean and bony as a hungry disciple75 of the Muses76. These alternating expansions and collapses77 seem to have a great influence on the change of colour, which, however, according to Milne-Edwards, is principally owing to the skin of the animal consisting of two differently coloured layers, placed one above the other, and changing their relative position under the influence of excitement.
CHAMELEON.
In our cold and northern regions the captive Chameleon cuts but a sorry figure: but in his own and sunny regions, which extend from southern Spain and Sicily to the Cape59, and eastwards78 from Arabia and Hindostan to Australia, it is said to be by no means deficient79 in beauty, in spite of its strangely-formed carinated head, its enormously projecting eyes, and its granulated skin. Its manner of hunting for the little winged insects, that form its principal food, is very peculiar. Although the movements of its head are very limited, on account of the shortness of its neck, this deficiency is amply supplied by the wide range of its vision, each eye being able to move about in all directions independently of the other. Thus, while one of them attentively80 gazes upon the heavens,314 the other minutely examines the ground, or while one of them rolls in its orbit, the other remains fixed81; nay82, their mobility83 is so great, that without even moving its stiff head, this wonderful lizard, like Janus, the double-faced god of ancient Rome, can see at the same time all that goes on before and behind it. When an insect comes flying along, the Chameleon, perched on a branch, and half concealed between the foliage84, follows it in all its movements by means of his powerful telescopes, until the proper moment for action appears. Then, quick as thought, he darts85 forth86, even to a distance of five or six inches, his long fleshy glutinous87 tongue, which is moreover furnished with a dilated and somewhat tubular tip, and drawing it back with the same lightning-like velocity88, engulphs his prey. This independence of the eyes is owing to the imperfect sympathy which subsists89 between the two lobes90 of the brain and the two sets of nerves which ramify throughout the opposite sides of its frame. Hence also one side of the body may be asleep while the other is vigilant91, one may be green while the other is ash-blue, and it is even said that the Chameleon is utterly92 unable to swim, because the muscles of both sides are incapable93 of acting94 in concert.
Destined95 for an arboreal96 life, he is provided with organs beautifully adapted for supporting himself on the flexible branches; for, besides the cylindrical97 tail nearly as long as his body which he coils round the boughs98, his five toes are united two and three by a common skin, so as to form, as it were, a pair of pincers or a kind of hand, admirably suited for a hold-fast.
IGUANA.
Among the Iguanas99, a huge lizard tribe, characterised by a carinated back and tail, and a large denticulated gular pouch, the common or Great American Guana (Iguana tuberculata) deserves particular notice, as its white flesh is considered a great delicacy100 in Brazil and the West Indies. Notwithstanding its large size, for it not seldom attains102 a length of four or five feet, and the formidable appearance of its serrated back, it is in reality by no means of a warlike disposition103, and so stupid that, instead of endeavouring to save itself by a315 timely flight, it merely stares with its large eyes, and inflates104 its pouch, while the noose105 is passing round its neck to drag it from its hole.
The Bahama Islands abound with Guanas, which form a great part of the subsistence of the inhabitants. They are caught by dogs, trained for the purpose, in the hollow rocks and trees where they nestle, and either carried alive for sale to Carolina, or kept for home consumption. They feed wholly on vegetables and food, particularly on a kind of fungus106, growing at the roots of trees, and on the fruits of the different kinds of pine apples, whence their flesh most likely acquires its delicate flavour.
MONITOR.
The famous South American monitory lizard or Teju (Tejus monitor) is one of the largest and most beautiful of the whole race, as he measures no less than five feet from the snout to the tip of the tail, which is nearly twice as long as the body, while his black colour, variegated107 with bright yellow bands and spots, produces an agreeable and pleasing effect. The head is small, the snout gradually tapers108, the limbs are slender, and the tail, which is laterally110 compressed, gradually decreases towards the extremity111. The Teju lives in cavities and hollows, frequently under the roots of trees. When pursued, he runs rapidly straight forward to his burrow112; but when his retreat is intercepted113, he defends himself valiantly114, and proves a by no means contemptible115 antagonist116, as he is able to bite through a thick boot, and a stroke with his strong and muscular tail will completely disable a dog. Though the Monitor generally lives on land, he is an excellent swimmer, and catches many a fish in its native element. His chief food, however, consists in various fruits, rats, mice, birds, and he also devours118 a large number of the eggs and young of the alligator119. The attachment120 to man which is universally attributed to him in Brazil, and the warning which, like his relation the Monitor of the Nile, he is said to give to him of the approach of the cayman or the crocodile, by emitting a peculiar and shrill sound, are idle fables121 which hardly required the contradiction of Prince Maximilian of Neu Wied, who in all his travels never once heard the Teju’s316 monitory cry, although occasions were not wanting when it might have been of service.
The large Water-lizards (Hydrosauri) frequent the low river banks or the margins of springs, and although they may be seen basking on rocks or on the dead trunk of some prostrate122 tree in the heat of the sun, yet they appear more partial to the damp weeds and undergrowth in the neighbourhood of water. Their gait has somewhat more of the awkward lateral109 motion of the crocodile than of the lively action of the smaller saurians. When attacked, they lash123 violently with their tail, swaying it sideways with great force like the cayman. These modern types of the Ichthyosaurus have a graceful habit of extending the neck, and raising the head to look about them, and as you follow them leisurely124 over the rocks, or through the jungle, they frequently stop, turn their heads round, and take a deliberate survey of the intruder. They are by no means vicious, though they bite severely125 when provoked, acting, however, always on the defensive126. On examining their stomachs, crabs127, locusts128, beetles129, the remains of jumping fish, the scales of snakes, and bones of frogs and other small animals are discovered. Like that of the Iguanas, their flesh is delicate eating, resembling that of a very young sucking-pig. Mr. Adams gives us an amusing description of his contests with a gigantic Water-lizard (Hydrosaura giganteus): ‘Throwing myself on him, I wounded him with a clasp knife in the tail, but he managed to elude130 my grasp, and made for the woods. I succeeded, however, in tracking his retreating form, on hands and knees, through a low covered labyrinth131 in the dense132 undergrowth, until I saw him extended on a log; when, leaving the jungle, I called my servant, a marine, who was shooting specimens133 for me, and pointing out the couchant animal, desired him to shoot him in the neck, as I did not wish the head to be injured, which he accordingly did. Entering the jungle, I then closed with the wounded saurian, and seizing him by the throat, bore him in triumph to our quarters. Here he soon recovered; and hoping to preserve him alive to study his habits, I placed him in a Malay wicker hen-coop. As we were sitting, however, at dinner, the black cook, with great alarm depicted134 in his features, reported that ‘Alligator got out his cage!’ Seizing the carving135 knife, I317 rushed down, and was just in time to cut off his retreat into the adjoining swamp. Turning sharply round, he made a snap at my leg, and received in return a ‘Rowland for his Oliver’ in the shape of an inch or so of cold steel. After wrestling on the ground, and struggling through the deserted136 fire of our sable117 cook, I at length secured the runaway137, tied him up to a post, and to prevent further mischief138, ended his career by dividing the jugular139. The length of this lizard from actual measurement was five feet ten inches and a half.’
These semi-aquatic, dingy-hued saurians are admirably adapted to the hot moist swamps and shallow lagoons140 that fringe the rivers of the tropical alluvial141 plains. As we watch their dark forms, plunging142 and wallowing in the water, or sluggishly143 moving over the soft and slimy mud, the imagination is carried back to the age of reptiles, when the muddy shores of the primæval ocean swarmed145 with their uncouth146 forms. The huge lizard, six or seven feet long, to which divine honours are paid at Bonny on the coast of Guinea, belongs most likely to this amphibious class. Undisturbed, the lazy monsters crawl heavily through the streets, and as they pass, the negroes reverentially make way. A white man is hardly allowed to look at them, and hurried as fast as possible out of their presence. An attempt was once made to kidnap one of these dull lizard-gods for the benefit of a profane147 museum, but the consequences were such as to prevent a repetition of the offence, for all trade and intercourse148 with the ships in harbour was immediately stopped, and affairs assumed so hostile an aspect, that the foreigners were but too glad to purchase peace with a considerable sacrifice of money and goods. When one of these lizards crawls into a house, it is considered a great piece of good fortune; and when it chooses to take a bath, the Bonnians hurry after it in their canoes. After having allowed it to swim a stretch, and to plunge149 several times, they seize it for fear of danger, and carry it back again to the land, well pleased at once more having the sacred reptile8 in their safe possession.
The formidable name of Flying Dragons has been given to a genus of small lizards, remarkable for the expansible cutaneous processes with which the sides are furnished, and by whose means they are enabled to spring with more facility from branch to branch, and even to support themselves for some318 time in the air, like the bat or flying-squirrel. The tiny painted Dragon of the East, the Flying Lizard of the woods, is fond of clinging with its wings to the smooth trunks of trees, and there remaining immovable, basking in the sun. When disturbed, it leaps and shuffles150 away in an awkward manner. One Mr. Adams had in his possession, reminded him of a bat when placed on the ground. Sometimes the strange creature would feign151 death, and remain perfectly152 motionless, drooping153 its head, and doubling its limbs, until it fancied the danger over, then cautiously raising its crouching154 form, it would look stealthily around, and be off in a moment. The dragon consumes flies in a slow and deliberate manner, swallowing them gradually; its various species belong exclusively to India and the islands of the Eastern Archipelago.
FLYING DRAGON.
Who has not heard of the fatal glance of the basilisk, which, according to poetical155 fancy, obliged all other poisonous animals to keep at a respectful distance
‘from monster more abhorr’d than they’?
The truth is, that the ugly lizards that bear this dreaded156 name, which has been given them from the fanciful resemblance of their pointed157 occipital crest158 to a regal crown, are quite as harmless and inoffensive as the flying dragon. They are chiefly inhabitants of South America, where they generally lead a sylvian life, feeding on insects.
BASILISK.
SURINAM TOAD.
Among the toads of the torrid zone there is none more curious than the large and hideous159 Pipa Surinamensis, whose319 deformity is often aggravated160 by a phenomenon unexampled in the rest of the animal world, namely, the young in various stages of exclusion161, proceeding162 from cells dispersed163 over the back of the parent. It was for a long time supposed that the ova of this extraordinary reptile were produced in the dorsal164 cells without having been first excluded in the form of spawn165; but it is now thoroughly166 ascertained167 that the female Pipa deposits her eggs or spawn at the brink168 of some stagnant169 water, and that the male collects or amasses170 the heap of ova, and deposits them with great care on the back of the female, where, after impregnation, they are pressed into the cellules, which are at that period open for their reception, and afterwards close over them; thus retaining them till the period of their second birth, which happens in somewhat less than three months, when they emerge from the back of the parent in their complete state. The Pipa is fond of dark nooks and corners, and avoids the light of day as if conscious of its unrivalled hideousness171.
BAHIA TOAD.
Mr. Darwin thus describes a remarkable species of toad he noticed at Bahia. ‘Amongst the Batrachian reptiles, I found only one little toad, which was most singular from its colour. If we imagine, first, that it had been steeped in the blackest ink, and then, when dry, allowed to crawl over a board freshly painted with the brightest vermilion, so as to colour the sides of its feet and parts of its stomach, a good idea of its appearance will be gained. If it is an unnamed species, surely it ought to be called diabolicus, for it is a fit toad to preach in the ear of Eve. Instead of being nocturnal in its habits as other toads are, and living in damp and obscure recesses172, it crawls during the heat of the day about the dry sand hillocks and arid173 plains, where not a single drop of water can be found. It must necessarily depend on the dew for its moisture, and this probably is absorbed by the skin, for it is known that these reptiles possess great powers of cutaneous absorption. At Maldonado I found one in a situation nearly as dry as at Bahia Blanca, and, thinking to give it a great treat, carried it to a pool of water; not only was the little animal unable to swim, but I think without help would soon have been drowned.’
320 The giant-toad (Bufo gigas, agua) frequents the Brazilian campos in such numbers that in the evening or after a shower of rain, when they come forth from their hiding-places to regale174 on the damp and murky175 atmosphere, the earth seems literally176 to swarm144 with them. They are double the size of our common toad, and are even said to attain101, with their outstretched hind62 legs, a foot’s length, with a proportionate girth. Covered with unsightly warts177, and of a dull grey colour, their aspect is repulsive178, and when excited, they eject a liquid which is very much feared by the natives. Their voice is loud and disagreeable; while Guinea possesses, in the Breviceps gibbosus, a small toad which is said to sing delightfully179, ‘charming the swamps with its melodious180 note.’
A Brazilian tree-frog, (Hyla crepitans) which adheres to the large leaves, not merely with its widened toes, but with its constantly viscid body, has a voice which sounds like the cracking of a large piece of wood, and generally proceeds from many throats at a time. On wandering through the forests of Brazil, Prince Maximilian of Neu Wied was often surprised by this singular concert issuing from the dark shades of the forest.
A Surinam tree-frog (Hyla micans) has the singular property of secreting181 a luminous182 slime, so as to look in the dark like a yellowish will-o’-the-wisp. Its voice is most disagreeable, and is said at times completely to overpower the orchestra of the theatre in Paramaribo, thus emulating183 the stentorian184 achievements of the Virginian bull-frog.
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1
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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lizards
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| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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toads
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 ) | |
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toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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chameleon
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| n.变色龙，蜥蜴；善变之人 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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iguana
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| n.美洲大蜥蜴，鬣鳞蜥 | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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margins
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| 边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数 | |
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furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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exudes
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| v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的第三人称单数 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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tainting
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| v.使变质( taint的现在分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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virulent
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| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
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secretion
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| n.分泌 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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abound
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| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
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enumerates
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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indigenous
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| adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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47
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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48
dilates
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| v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
touchy
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| adj.易怒的；棘手的 | |
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50
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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51
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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52
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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53
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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54
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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55
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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56
pouches
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| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
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57
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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58
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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59
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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60
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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61
appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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62
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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63
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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64
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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65
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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66
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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67
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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68
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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69
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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70
fable
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| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
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71
emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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72
naturalists
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| n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者 | |
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73
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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74
inflating
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| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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75
disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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76
muses
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的第三人称单数 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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77
collapses
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| 折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下 | |
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78
eastwards
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| adj.向东方（的），朝东（的）；n.向东的方向 | |
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79
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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80
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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81
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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82
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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83
mobility
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| n.可动性，变动性，情感不定 | |
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84
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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85
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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86
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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87
glutinous
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| adj.粘的，胶状的 | |
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88
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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89
subsists
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的第三人称单数 ) | |
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90
lobes
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| n.耳垂( lobe的名词复数 )；（器官的）叶；肺叶；脑叶 | |
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91
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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92
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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93
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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94
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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95
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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96
arboreal
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| adj.树栖的；树的 | |
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97
cylindrical
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| adj.圆筒形的 | |
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98
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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99
iguanas
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| n. 美洲蜥蜴 名词iguana的复数形式 | |
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100
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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101
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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102
attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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103
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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104
inflates
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| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的第三人称单数 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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105
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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106
fungus
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| n.真菌，真菌类植物 | |
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107
variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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108
tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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109
lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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110
laterally
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| ad.横向地；侧面地；旁边地 | |
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111
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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112
burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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113
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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114
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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115
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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116
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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117
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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118
devours
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| 吞没( devour的第三人称单数 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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119
alligator
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| n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼) | |
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120
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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121
fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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122
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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123
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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124
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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125
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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126
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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127
crabs
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| n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 ) | |
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128
locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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129
beetles
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| n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 ) | |
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130
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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131
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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132
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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133
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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134
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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135
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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136
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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137
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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138
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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139
jugular
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| n.颈静脉 | |
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140
lagoons
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| n.污水池( lagoon的名词复数 )；潟湖；（大湖或江河附近的）小而浅的淡水湖；温泉形成的池塘 | |
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141
alluvial
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| adj.冲积的；淤积的 | |
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142
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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143
sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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144
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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145
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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146
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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147
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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148
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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149
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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150
shuffles
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| n.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的名词复数 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的第三人称单数 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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151
feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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152
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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153
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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154
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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155
poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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156
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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157
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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158
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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159
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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160
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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161
exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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162
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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163
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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164
dorsal
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| adj.背部的，背脊的 | |
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165
spawn
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| n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产 | |
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166
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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167
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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168
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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169
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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170
amasses
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的第三人称单数 ) | |
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171
hideousness
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172
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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173
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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174
regale
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| v.取悦，款待 | |
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175
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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176
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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177
warts
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| n.疣( wart的名词复数 )；肉赘；树瘤；缺点 | |
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178
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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179
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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180
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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181
secreting
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的现在分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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182
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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183
emulating
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| v.与…竞争( emulate的现在分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
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184
stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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