SNAKE-LIZARDS. 143 



about six weeks or two months : there can be 

 no doubt, however, that the duration of this 

 period must depend upon the temperature to 

 which the animal is exposed. They are produced 

 in June or July. The number of young ones 

 produced at one birth varies from seven to twelve 

 or thirteen. When brought forth, they are from 

 eighteen to twenty-two lines in length. The 

 young become very active ahnost immediately 

 after their birth, and soon learn to feed upon 

 small soft insects, and probably small worms, 

 snails, or slugs. 



" The shedding of its skin is performed by 

 this species in the same manner as by most of 

 the true Ophidians. It is, in fact, taken off in 

 one piece, when the animal is at liberty arid 

 strong enough to effect this ; and, like the others, 

 it leaves its skin turned inside out, attached to 

 the brushwood, or other substance which it has 

 employed to entangle or secure it as it was 

 coming off. It is, however, stated, that in some 

 cases it is inverted only as far as the vent, and 

 that the tail slips out of its covering ^ like a 

 sword out of its scabbard.' "* 



* Brit. Kept. 44. 



