the scaly lizard, in zoology, a genus of quadrupeds, belonging to the order of Bruta, the characters of which are these: They have no fore-teeth either in the upper or under jaw; the tongue is long and cylindrical: the snout is long and narrow; and the body is covered with hard scales. There are two species, viz.

1. The pentadactyla, or scaly lizard with five toes on each foot. The head is smaller than the neck; the eyes are very small; the length of the body, including the tail, is from six to eight feet. The whole body is covered with hard scales, excepting the under part of the head and neck, the breast, the belly, and the internal side of each leg. Between the scales of this animal, there are some hard hairs like the bristles of a hog, brownish at the points. The scales are of a reddish colour, very hard, convex above, and concave below. All the parts which want scales are naked. The scales are unconnected, and the animal can raise or lower them at pleasure like the quills of the porcupine. When irritated, he erects his scales, and rolls himself up like a hedge-hog. In this situation, neither the tiger, the lion, nor any other animal, is able to hurt him. This creature has nothing forbidding about him but his figure. He is mild and inoffensive, feeding on nothing but worms and other insects. His motion is slow; and he has no other method of escaping the pursuit of man, but by concealing himself in crannies of rocks, and in holes which they dig in the ground, where they likewise bring forth their young. This animal is a native of the East Indies; and are so few in number, that they are seldom to be met with.

2. The tetradactyla, or scaly lizard with four toes on each foot. This species is very similar to the former; only the tail is much longer in proportion to the body, and such parts as want scales, instead of being naked, are covered with a soft hair. It is likewise found in the East Indies. See Plate CIV. fig. 4.