THE GREEN LIZARD. 37 



This reptile is found inhabiting the greater part 

 of Central and Southern Europe, including France 

 as far north as Paris. It is very common in the 

 south of that country, all over Italy and the south 

 of Switzerland ; is found in Sicily, Greece, Poland, 

 Austria, the Crimea, and Barbary.* 



This is a really fine lizard, large, beautiful, and 

 attractive, at least as much so as a reptile can be. 

 Its entire length seldom exceeds fifteen inches, 

 though sometimes attaining eighteen inches in the 

 Morea. Although the colouring is very variable, 

 green is a prevailing tint. The upper surface is 

 sometimes of a uniform green, at others green 

 with yellow spots, and occasionally brown with green 

 or white markings, rarely brown with white streaks 

 edged with black. The lower surface is usually 

 yellow. It occurs on hedge-banks and grassy 

 places. 



It is of a rather tractable nature, submits to con- 

 finement, and ultimately becomes familiar, for which 

 reason it is not an uncommon pet in the warmer 

 countries of Europe, where it is chiefly found ; and 

 is occasionally imported into this country for a like 

 purpose. If it really cannot be proved to be truly 

 indigenous to Great Britain, all we can say is, " the 



* Lord Clermont's " Quadrupeds and Reptiles of Europe," 

 p. 185. 



