26 LACERTIDE. 



familiar with it from my cliildlioocl ; and its frequency in 

 various parts of the sandy heaths around Poole and its 

 neighbourhood gave me, when young, numerous opportunities 

 of observing the remarkable difference of size between this 

 and the other native species ; — from which circumstance I 

 had, even then, often suspected that they were distinct. 

 Subsequently, when the prosecution of the study of Erpeto- 

 logy might perhaps have enabled me to distinguish them, 

 the opportunity of observing them had ceased, until Mr. 

 Jenyns, having, through Mr. Yarrell, obtained specimens 

 from Poole, seized, with his usual acumen, upon the 

 point of distinction, and speedily discovered the identity of 

 this species with the L. stirpium of Daudin, of Milne Ed- 

 wards, and of Duges. 



I shall be readily pardoned this long and somewhat dry 

 investigation of the synonymy of this species by every 

 systematic Zoologist who appreciates the importance of pre- 

 cision on this subject ; and I now proceed to give a short 

 history of its habits, as far as I have had an opportunity of 

 observing them. 



This beautiful species is found in the neighbourhood of 

 Poole in somewhat different situations. Its general abode is 

 on sandy heaths, where it is frequently seen crossing the 

 small bye-paths with considerable swiftness, although it is 

 certainly less rapid in its movements than the smaller and 

 more common species. The transient glance which is thus 

 obtained of it, " together with its viperine appearance and 

 colovirs," and the size and length of its body and tail, may 

 easily have deceived Mr. Shcppard, who says that he has 

 often mistaken it for the Viper when hastily passing it. 

 But it is also occasionally seen on the sunny sides of green 

 banks, basking in the sun's rays, and retreating quickly upon 

 the approach of any intruder. Mr. Sheppard mentions that 

 he had " once or twice observed it near marshes ;" and it is 



