LIZARDS. 119 
lines. These markings, however, vary considerably. The under- 
parts are black, marked with white. 
The Slow-worm may be.bought for sums varying from 6d. to 
2s., according to the size and condition of the animal and the 
season of the year. It is found in England, Scotland, and 
in almost every part of the Continent, as well as in Western 
Asia. 
The Skink Lizards (Scincide) have a moderately long tongue, 
slightly notched, extensile, and covered with scale-like papille ; 
their teeth are pleurodont. Their body is covered with rounded 
imbricate scales arranged in fives, and beneath the scales 
there is a kind of armour formed of bony plates. Some of 
the Skinks ‘possess limbs, others are without them. The eyes 
of all have round pupils and well-developed eye-lids. Their 
head is covered with symmetrical shields. No Skink has femoral 
pores, and all are supposed to be ovoviviparous. The family has 
a very wide distribution, representatives being found in almost 
every part of the world. None of its members, as a rule, climb 
trees nor enter water, but prefer dry, sandy, and stony localities. 
There are about 25 genera and nearly 400 species of Skinks. 
The Stump-tailed Lizard (Trachysaurus rugosus), also known as 
the Two-headed Lizard and the Sleeping Lizard, comes from 
Australia, and lives fairly well in confinement. It is a curious- 
looking Reptile with its stump-like tail, long stout body, and 
short weak legs. When asleep, the strangely-shaped caudal 
member is sometimes mistaken by the unobservant for a second 
head; hence one of the popular names. The upper part of 
the tail and body, and of the head in a less degree, is covered 
with broad, large, rough or wrinkled scales (as the specific 
name implies), having somewhat the appearance of a pine- 
cone. The scales on the lower surfaces are smaller and smooth. 
The back is of a brown colour, marked with yellowish spots 
or bands; the lower parts are yellowish, spotted or streaked 
with brown. 
The stump-tailed Lizard is very common in Western Australia, 
and is found on sandy and stony plains. In this country it is 
rather expensive to buy, costing generally about 30s. It ought 
to be kept & a heated Vivarium, the bottom of which should be 
