3IO 



REPTILIA 



of a snake. It is not blind and certainly not at all worm-like. It is 

 viviparous. Ditmars cites a case of 2. Jourteen-inch female giving 

 birth to sixteen young, each three inches long. Young slow-worms 

 feed on termites. Adults feed on earth-worms, insect larvae and 

 slugs. The teeth are re-curved and fang-like with traces of a groove^ 

 showing that the animal is related to the poisonous lizards. 



The " glass snakes " {Ophisaurus apus of Europe, and 0. ventralis 

 of America) are limbless lizards. (Figure 168.) Their movable 

 eyelids, and ear openings distinguish them from the true snakes. 

 When attacked, they quite easily drop their brittle tail and move 

 away to regenerate a new one. 



Fig. 168. Glass snake, Ophisaurus ventralis. (Courtesy of N. Y. Zool. Soc.) 



The beaded lizards ( Helodermatidae) include two poisonous forms 

 found in deserts in the United States, Mexico and Central America. 

 The Gila monster {H. suspectum), a beaded lizard with grooved 

 fangs, has been reported to be quite poisonous to man, but the 

 evidence is rather inconclusive. (See p. 328.) Its large tail is a 

 reservoir for fat storage. It may reach a length of two feet. 



The geckos of the Mediterranean region {Geckonidae) can run 

 on smooth surfaces, climbing walls and ceilings by means of adhesive 

 pads on their toes. The suctorial disks are arranged like the slates 

 on a roof. The gecko is non-venomous, feeding on insects. It 

 drops its tail when attacked. (Figure 169.) 



The European ''green lizard" or wall lizard {Lacerta viridis). 



