Q6 SAURIA. 



ORDER III. SAURIA. 



{Lizards.) 



The Sauria or true Lizards, resemble the Cro- 

 codiles in their external form, the body being 

 lengthened and tapering to the tail, which is 

 likewise long, in the possession of four limbs (at 

 least in most cases), and in the presence of nume- 

 rous teeth. They have a moderate number of 

 perfect and moveable ribs, capable of being raised 

 for the purpose of respiration. The lung extends 

 more or less towards the hind part of the body, 

 often penetrating into the abdomen. Their skin 

 is covered with scales, which in many overlap at 

 the hinder edges ; in others are flat, with the edges 

 in common contact, and in some are so minute 

 as to impart a kind of granulated or shagreened 

 surface. " The eyes are furnished with eyelids ; 

 the ear in some protected by a simple valve, in 

 others by scales rather larger than the surrounding 

 ones, and in others the tympanum is on a level 

 with the surface of the skin." 



The ordinary mode of reproduction is by eggs, 

 which are coated with a calcareous, brittle shell : 

 those of the Chameleon, however, have the cover- 

 ing tough, resembling parchment. In the exten- 

 sive Family of the Skinks, all the species, as we 

 believe, are ovoviviparous, as are also some of 

 the Lizards proper, for example, our own little 

 Zootoca. The young come into existence in the 

 same form which they retain through life. 



