LACERTIDA. IOI 
Together with the Op/zsaurus, or American Glass Snake, they are the 
only known Zouuride that inhabit the New World. The great mass 
of this family and all of its most characteristic species are African, 
and these are arranged by Dr. Gray under the sub-families Cicignine 
and Zonurine. In the first of these sub-families the tailis smooth or 
unarmed, and in the second it is spinous. The Cordules, Cordyus, 
Zonurus, &c., are very characteristic Lizards, chiefly of southern Africa, 
several species of which have been figured by Sir Andrew Smith. 
They are mostly of shortish form, and the neck is more or less spinous ; 
the body-scales in some (as Zonurus cataphractus) being extraordinarily 
rugous. These lizards squeeze themselves into crevices in the rocks, 
in which they hold on so firmly by their nuchal spines that it is next 
to impossible to dislodge them, the tail commonly giving way if it be 
attempted to pull them forth by means of it. 
The family of Zacertide, comprising our ordinary European Lizards, 
have no longitudinal fold along the sides, but generally one across 
the throat ; the tail is very long, rounded, with its scales arranged in 
rings ; the head is covered with shields, which are symmetrically 
arranged ; scales on the back granular or rhombic, on the sides 
granular, on the belly largely quadrangular or rounded, and arranged 
in cross bands ; eyes diurnal, with eyelids ; the tympanum distinct ; 
limbs always four, and well developed ; it is also fragile. This group 
of Lizards has no representative in America or (so far as known) in 
Australia. 
The sub-family of Zachydromine is included by Dr. Gray in the 
family Zonuride. These are Asiatic Lizards, with a most inordinate 
length of tail, the fore and hind limbs being not placed distantly 
apart, as in the various anguiform Lizards already treated of ; there is 
an indistinct collar, and the toes are not serrated or keeled. Two 
genera have been distinguished, Zachydromus and Tachysaurus, the 
latter founded on a Japanese Lizard, 7: jwfonicus. At least three 
species are known of Zachydromus, two of which inhabit China, 
I. septentrionalis and T. meridionalis; the third belonging to the 
Indo-Chinese countries, 7: sex-dineatus. In an example of the last, 
measuring fourteen inches long, the tail occupies eleven inches and a 
half. It is the longest-tailed creature, in proportion to its other parts, 
that we have any knowledge of; indeed, something quite wonder‘ul 
to behold and muse over. 
The rest of the Zacertide are chiefly from Africa and the south of 
Europe; there are probably more of them to be discovered in central 
Asia, and only three or four species are known to inhabit the Indian 
region. Fifteen or more genera are recognised. In temperate Europe 
