THE WORLD OF LIZARDS

by G. Earl Chace ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 1982

Describing lizards in general and then particular lizards family-by-family, this is little more than a compilation of information, drily set forth--but there is an abundance of information and we can trust the expertise of the author, who draws frequently on his own experience and observations as Black Hills (S.D.) Reptile Gardens Curator. ""This does not allow a fast recuperative period from excessive activity"" is not a sentence to stir the heart or mind, but for those who can find fascination in a lizard's circulation system, it will serve. Readers must supply their own wonder at the lizard wiggling out of its tail, and their own poetry in imagining the Indonesian flying dragon's ""substantially long gliding flights through the air."" But if Chace's style is pedestrian, serious young naturalists will be content with the range of details and close observations. And, for small wonders, there is intrinsic curiosity value in such phenomena as the Nile monitor lizard depositing her eggs in termite nests (later we see worm lizards using ant and termite nests for nurseries), the chameleon's pleated tongue shooting out ""just as a wet watermelon seed can be shot out with pressure between two fingers,"" and the gila's disposition changing from fierce and dangerous in its natural desert (or when taken out into the sun) to docile and gentle in captivity. Serviceable.

Pub Date: May 31, 1982

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1982

Categories: NONFICTION