38 LACERTADA. 
animals are not wholly devoid of the instinct of parental 
care and tendance; but it is scarcely probable that the 
exercise of this feeling is ever very powerful, or that it 
endures for any considerable period. The young when 
brought forth are fully formed, and capable of running 
about, and very shortly afterwards of taking their own 
food. They vary in number from three to six. 
Although I have alluded to the sun’s influence as being 
the means of hastening the evolution of the embryo in the 
oviparous reptiles, it is not to be concluded that the same 
source of warmth is unnecessary in the present and similar 
instances. The only difference is, that in the ovo-vivipa- 
rous species the solar heat is communicated to the embryo 
through the medium of the mother; and hence we often 
see the pregnant female about the month of June con- 
stantly basking in the sun, and lying in such a position as 
to expose the body most fully to his influence. Every 
one who has watched the habits of our native reptiles 
must have seen the same circumstance in the gravid 
female of the Common Viper; and may have observed 
how much more reluctantly and tardily she leaves the 
genial spot than the male. 
This little Lizard is much smaller and more gracile 
in its form than the LZ. agilis. The head is more depress- 
ed, rather narrower, and the muzzle more acute. The 
arrangement and relative size of the plates on the head 
do not differ very considerably ; but those of the temples 
are much smaller and more numerous in the present than 
in the former. The collar consists of nine plates, which 
are nearly equal; the abdominal plates in six rows, the 
middle and outer ones narrower than the intermediate. 
The dorsal scales are narrower, more angular, and the 
carina less distinct than in Z. agilis: those of the tail are 
