^4 The Irish Naturalist. May, 



ON THE VARIATION OF THE LIZARD 



(lacerta vivipara) . 



BY R. F. SCHARFF, B.SC. 



In my report on the Reptiles and Amphibians of the 

 Clare Island Survey/ I expressed the opinion that Tizards 

 from Ireland showed no characters by means of which 

 they might be distinguished from British or Continental 

 specimens of the same species. This is rather remarkable 

 considering that this animal offers so much scope for 

 variation and that it occurs under such extreme diversities 

 of soil and climate. 



The same subject has recently been reinvestigated by 

 Dr. Boulenger," who had at his disposal in the British 

 Museum a very much larger series of specimens than I 

 had. There were altogether 150 specimens from various 

 parts of Europe and Asia. He compared minutely the 

 shape of the body, the scales, the colour and size of 

 the specimens, and as the result of these researches 

 declares his inability to distinguish any varieties or 

 geographical races. It is one of the most remarkable 

 instances of a persistent type of animal. Specimens 

 of this Lizard from [Clare Island in the west are 

 indistinguishable from those occurring in the Island of 

 Sachalien in the Pacific, or from those found on the 

 Amoor in Northern Asia, Lapland, Bulgaria, Italy, the 

 Alps or Pyrenees. 



National Museum, Dublin. 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Patas Monkey Irom Mr. T. S. Russell, a Fox 

 f rom Miss Joye Stronge, a Badger from Mr. G. Moore, a Hedgehog and 

 a Jay from Mr. \V. \V. Despard, a Swan from Mr. F. Power, a pair of 

 Doves from Miss Vernon, and a pair of Amherst Pheasants from Mrs. 

 W. Bailey. A Drill has been deposited in the Monkey House. 



• ^ Pyoc. R. Irish Acad., vol. xx.xi., 191 2, part 18. 

 ^Journal of Zool. Research, vol. i., 1917, pp. 1-16, 



