52 BRITISH LIZARDS 



the young are first born they remain with the parent 

 for a time, and, like the adder, she has been credited 

 with swallowing them for purposes of protection. 

 Personally, I have never observed any indication of 

 parental relationship in these lizards, either in nature 

 or in captivity. 



This lizard has a greater objection to being handled 

 than either the slow-worm or the sand lizard ; very 

 hard it is to retain one in the hand without injury if 

 it is attempting to wriggle out. 



Sloughing occurs at intervals as in other lizards, it 

 being somewhat rare to obtain a perfect slough in 

 one piece (see page 39). 



J. A. thus describes some habits of this lizard 



{Newcastle Weekly Chronicle^ 1881): — 



"Some years ago I remember being on a bird-nesting excursion in 

 Belford Cragg. Seeing a bird flying about with food in its mouth, I 

 concealed myself up the branches of a tall, thick holly-bush, and there 

 waited quietly to see where the bird would go to feed its young. I 

 had not sat more than a few minutes, when a small lizard crept out 

 from the side of a stone and laid itself quietly down to bask in the 

 sun's rays. It was presently joined by a second, and then a third, 

 fourth, and fifth. I watched the motions of these little creatures for 

 nearly an hour, and so interesting and amusing were they that I forgot 

 to observe what became of the bird with the 'bait' in its mouth. 

 Sometimes they would lie motionless, separated from each other by a 

 few yards ; then suddenly one would dart swiftly towards his neigh- 

 bour, who, in turn, with equal agility, would avoid the attack ; then 

 a general darting to and fro, helter-skelter, would occur amongst the 

 lot. Suddenly there was a pause, and all would lie still ; then one 

 would dart at some insect, secure it, and resume his vigils ; then in a 

 moment all was commotion again, a general darting here and there in 

 all directions. Could not I secure one of these little lizards, thought I. 

 But how was it to be done ? The slightest movement on my part 

 alarmed the whole, and they were all out of sight in an instant. In a 

 short time they would return and resume their manoeuvres. I thought 



