1903 Reptile Studies 211 



The Slow- worm {Anguis fragilis). 



The Common lizard (L. vivipara). 



The Sand lizard {L. agilis). 



The Green lizard (L. viridis). 



The Wall lizard (L. muralis). 

 Whether it is well to thus include the Channel Islands 

 in Great Britain for zoological purposes or not is of minor 

 importance. The great thing to be clear upon is that the 

 inclusion of the two last-named species depends simply 

 upon whether the inclusion is decided upon or not. 



The distribution of the three lizards of the mainland is 

 very various. Perhaps the most evenly distributed is the 

 little Common viviparous lizard, which is the only reptile 

 found in Ireland. In my own experience I have found 

 this species scattered all over the country in suitable spots, 

 and I have not observed very much difference in its 

 frequency in such widely differing localities as Dorset, 

 Norfolk, and Inverness-shire in the north of Scotland. In 

 some counties, however, it is distinctly rare, very few com- 

 paratively being observed in Herefordshire. It has often 

 been reported in mistake for the Sand lizard, especially from 

 Scotland, but a careful examination of the two side by side 

 will enable the field naturalist to avoid mistaking them. 

 The Slow-worm, our limbless lizard, is ako widely distributed, 

 but is absent from Ireland, whilst it is very local in its 

 occurrence in many counties. In some places in South 

 Wales it is extremely numerous, and in most counties can 

 be found without much difficulty if the right spots are 

 searched at the right time. 



It gets somewhat rare as one goes farther north, in 

 comparison, that is, with more southern localities ; and in a 

 fortnight of reptile hunting in the Highlands near Inverness, 

 I found only one single specimen. In that particular dis- 

 trict the Common lizard was fairly plentiful, and the adder 

 very numerous. 



Lastly, as regards the Sand lizard {L. agilis), it has to 

 be noted that the distribution of this species is peculiarly 

 restricted. As a matter of fact it is practically restricted 

 to a few localities in Dorset, Hampshire, and Surrey. In 

 the latter county the district of Farnham seems to be 



