54 A SPRING TOUR IN TORTUGAL. 



cevta ocellata), which measured nearly two feet in length, 

 and was of the most vivid green hue, speckled and spotted 

 with deep black or bright blue. Subsequently, I saw several 

 of this gigantic species, but on no occasion, not even in the 

 museum at Lisbon, did I meet with so large a specimen 

 as in the rocks above Cintra. If, however, I might credit 

 the assertion of an unscientific witness, who certainly had 

 no wish to exaggerate, but related what he believed to be 

 true, my large lizard would appear to be but a mere pigmy ; 

 for I was repeatedly told of a gigantic green lizard which 

 haunted some rock terraces at Montserrat, w^hich measured 

 about four feet in length ! but this, I take leave to say, 

 was an unintentional over-estimate. 



Pre-eminently conspicuous on one of the highest sum- 

 mits stands the Penha or Pena Convent, once (as its name 

 implies) a monastery, but now the palace of the enlightened 

 Dom Fernando, father to the present king. Now, if it be 

 the case, as the ancient Persians thought, that ' a palace 

 ought to have a lofty site, and look down on the habita- 

 tions of meaner men,' * then, undoubtedly, the Penha 

 Palace is most admirably situated, for by many hundred 

 feet it out-tops all other buildings in the place. Otherwise, 

 notwithstanding the excellent carriage road which w4nds 

 up to the castle gate, methought it w^as somewhat incon- 

 venient to have one's dwelling so high in these peaceable 

 times, when strength and security from attack are not the 

 first considerations in choosing a dwelling-place. More- 

 over, perched on the extreme summit, this semi-regal 

 palace is exposed to every wind which blows, and though 

 it is well to feel a gentle breeze stirring, when the heat 

 below is almost tropical, it is another thing to be exposed 

 to such frequent hurricanes and rude blasts, as coming in 

 direct from the wide Atlantic, seem to haunt these heights 



* Rawlinson's Ancient Monarchies, vol. iv. p. 239. 



