THE SAND LIZARD, LACERTA AGILIS 61 



of the Eibble to the outskirts of Liverpool, and, unless 

 Byerley's and Gregson's specimens were incorrectly 

 localised, on the Cheshire shore from West Kirby to 

 New Brighton." 



Description. — A glance at the photographs of this 

 species will convey the correct impression that the 

 sand hzard is larger and of heavier build than the 

 viviparous species. Associated with this is the fact 

 that L. agilis, in spite of its specific name, is less agile 

 than the smaller common form. It possesses granular 

 nodes over the eye, and teeth upon the palate bone, 

 the latter an important distinction between the two 

 lizards. A comparison of the scales on the body will 

 reveal that in the sand lizard these are more numerous 

 across from one side of the back to the other, and also 

 that the individual scales are smaller and evidently 

 keeled. On the dorsal aspect these scales are more 

 rounded or irregular than in L. vivipara, where we 

 saw they were hexagonal and elongated. In colour 

 there is the greatest variety, which is responsible for 

 much of the confusion between the two species. Dr. 

 Gadow describes it thus : — " The colouration is subject 

 to much variation, local as well as individual. As a 

 rule, the sand lizard gives the impression of being 

 striped longitudinally, the striation being caused by 

 rows of dark and white spots and patches along the 

 sides of the back, flanks, and tail. In the male a 

 more or less pronounced green, in the female brown 

 and grey are the prevaihng ground-colours. A 



