LIZARDS 85 



becoming very soon emaciated, in spite of a seemingly 

 healthy appetite. In the autumn of 191 1 I let loose 

 some hundreds of specimens of Wall Lizards at the back 

 of our Tortoise House, which is covered with bark, in order 

 to ascertain whether these creatures would thrive better 

 in more home-like surroundings. The experiment was 

 most successful, for although, as was only to be expected, 

 a number escaped, the majority evidently found their 

 quarters most suitable, settling down and breeding, the 

 newly born lizards being first observed the following June. 



Gallot's Lizard, Lacerta galloti, of the Canary Islands, 

 is a large species, attaining a length of a foot. It is very 

 dark olive or even black above, with greenish spots. This 

 lizard is much addicted to burrowing, and is fond of water, 

 and in the latter respect differs from other members of 

 the genus. 



Acanthodactylus of North Africa and South-Western 

 Asia is closely allied to Lacerta, but may be recognized by 

 its fringed digits. 



Some of the species of this genus were mummified by 

 the ancient Egyptians, and kept as charms in small wooden 

 or metal boxes, the top of which had in relief a representa- 

 tion of the lizard preserved inside. 



The family TEiiDi^, which is restricted to the New 

 World, is made up of forty-five genera, and about one 

 hundred and fifty species. From the Lacertids, which 

 many of the smaller forms externally resemble, they may 

 be distinguished by the teeth, these not being hollow at 

 the base, the new ones developing in small sockets at the 

 base of the old ones. In some of the higher forms the 



