LIZARDS 8 1 



In all the species of the strictly Old World lizards of 

 the family LACERTiDi^E, the limbs are well developed, the 

 tail is long and fragile, and the head is covered with bony 

 plates and large symmetrical, horny shields. The scales 

 of the back may be large and strongly keeled, or merely 

 granular. The lower eyelid in some of the species, 

 especially of those inhabiting sandy districts, is protected 

 by a transparent disc, enabling the lizards to see when the 

 lids are closed. 



The only two lizards inhabiting the British Isles, namely, 

 the Common Lizard, L. vwipara, and the Sand Lizard, 

 L. agilis, are typical members of this family. The Common 

 Lizard, which seldom exceeds six inches in length, is 

 distributed over the greater part of North and Central 

 Europe, and is the only reptile inhabiting Ireland. It 

 differs from the other species of the genus in bringing forth 

 its young alive, these being born in litters of from five to 

 a dozen. The newly-born lizards, which measure under an 

 inch in length, for the first fortnight or so, subsist on 

 the remains of the yolk in their abdomen. This familiar 

 reptile, the general colour of which is light brown or 

 yellowish-brown, with frequently a dark line down the 

 middle of the back, and another edged with yellow on 

 the sides, is usually found sunning itself on heaths or in 

 meadows in the neighbourhood of water, and captive 

 specimens, unlike its other relatives, have to be kept in 

 comparatively damp surroundings. 



The Sand Lizard, which is a very local creature with us, 

 confined to sandy heaths, is abundant in some parts of 

 Dorsetshire and Hampshire, and between Farnham and 

 Hindhead, reappearing on the sand dunes in the neigh- 



