CHAPTER IX 



THE WALL LIZARD, LAGERTA MURALIS 



DISTRIBUTION HABITS DESCRIPTION CHARACTERS 



COMMON TO THE FAMILY. 



We have already explained why it is that the green 

 lizard has found a place in a work on British species, 

 and it is for the same reasons that the wall lizard, 

 Lacerta muralis, must be here included. The one 

 cannot be regarded as a British species unless the 

 other be also so regarded, since it is simply a question 

 of the inclusion or omission of the Channel Islands in 

 the area denominated British. Since we include these 

 islands in our faunal divisions, both these species, on 

 that ground alone, become British. 



Whilst it is necessary, for the sake of consistency 

 and uniformity, to do this, the fact remains that the 

 average field naturalist in this country has but a 

 nominal acquaintance with the wall lizard ; and since it 

 will not come under his observation in field work, 

 unless he pays a visit to its habitat in the Channel 

 Islands or elsewhere, it is not necessary to treat it 



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