10 BRITISH LIZARDS 



it is at once evident that accurate classification must 

 be founded upon a basis of structure. 



It is no part of this work to enter upon the 

 structural characters of all the orders of Eeptiles ; it 

 will be sufficient now if we indicate in tabular form 

 what those orders are (as far as living reptiles are 

 concerned, and omitting the extinct forms), when the 

 position of the lizards will be more clearly apparent. 



/'Order Chelonia (turtles and tortoises). 



Class Keptilia.^ 



Order Crocodilia (crocodiles, etc.). 



Order Squamata or Sauria. 



Suborder Ophidia (serpents). 

 Suborder Lacertiha (lizards). 



We see, then, from the above classification that 

 we have to deal with one suborder of the class of 

 Eeptiles, namely, the Lacertilia. We have already 

 defined this group, and seen how the definition is 

 arrived at. The next thing is to look at the group 

 as a whole, w^hich will enable us to appreciate the 

 position which is occupied by the British members 

 of it. 



The Lacertilia or Lizards. — Included in this great 

 suborder of lizards there are some 1800 species, only 

 five of which come into the limits of this book. 

 Four of these are found to belong to the family 

 Lacertidte, the remaining one, the slow-worm, to the 

 family Anguidse. With the other numerous families 

 of lizards we have at present nothing to do, as we can 



