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IV. Description of the British Lizards; and of & new British 
Species of Viper. By Revett Sheppard, A.B. F.L.S. 
Read March 2, 1802. 
X he class of the animal creation denominated by Linnaeus 
Amphibia, is enveloped in great obscurity from the antipathy which 
mankind almost invariably entertain to the subjects that com- 
pose it. It is this that rendered Mr. Pennant's description of the 
Lizards of our own country so very short and unsatisfactory as 
we find it. He describes but three species, viz. Lacerta agi- 
lis, L. palustris, and L. vulgaris ; merely mentioning two others 
from Ray's Synopsis, viz. Lacertus parvus terrestris fuscus oppido 
varus, and Lacertus terrestris anguiformis in ericetis : and from 
Ray's very cursory account, it seems evident that he described 
them only from report. Thus then the British Lizards hitherto de- 
scribed may, I think, be fairly reduced to three. To these I have 
been fortunate enough to add two, if not three, that are entirely 
new. 
DIV. I. LAND LIZARDS. 
* Scaly, nith round verticillated tails. 
1. LACERTA AGILIS. SCALY OR SWIFT LIZARD. 
Head, upper part light brown, with a few black spots ; dirty white 
beneath. 
Back, ground colour light brown ; a line of irregular black spots 
along the middle ; next to this a stripe, spotted alternately with 
black and white ; then succeeds a broad dark brown one, with 
vol. vii. h aline 
MISSOURI 
BOTAHICJU. 
GAKDEN. 
