102 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
(inclusive of the British Islands) two species are common—the 
Zootica vivipara and the Lacerta agilis. ‘The former, as its name 
imports, is viviparous, whereas the other genera belonging to the 
family are (so far as known) oviparous. Others occur in the south 
of Europe. 
The common Grey or Sand Lizard (Z. agz/is) sometimes attains the 
length of from eight to ten inches, of which the tail occupies more 
than half. These little inoffensive creatures, so common in southern 
Europe, are slender and active ; their movements are so rapid that 
they escape the eye as quickly as a bird. ‘lhey require a mild 
temperature, and seek shelter among ruins. When the sun strikes 
with its meridian force upon a wall, they may be seen basking in its 
rays, enjoying themselves upon the heated surface. It is commonly 
said that the Lizard is the friend of man, since far from flying at his 
approach, they seem to regard his appearance with pleasure.* They 
pass the winter at the bottom of small holes which they have hollowed 
out of the earth, in which they become torpid. At the commencement 
of spring they issue from their hiding-place and seek a mate; they go 
in pairs, it is said, for many years, sharing between them the domestic 
arrangements, which comprise hatching the young and nursing them 
in their helplessness, carrying them to warm and sunny places, and 
sheltering them from cold and damp. 
Lizards feed chiefly upon insects, and especially flies. All who 
have watched the actions of the Grey Lizards must have observed that 
the caudal vertebree are so extremely fragile that they separate on the 
slightest touch, the tail remaining in the hand of any one attempting 
to seize it. These tails sometimes grow again. When an attempt is 
made to seize a Grey Lizard on the wall it lets itself fall to the ground, 
and remains there for a moment immovable before attempting to run, 
evidently simulating death. 
Grey Lizards are easily tamed, and appear happy in captivity. 
From their extreme gentleness they soon become familiar with their 
keepers, and return caress for caress, approaching mouth to mouth, 
and suck the saliva from between their master’s lips with a grace that 
few people would allow them to display. 
In the Green Lizard (Z. viridis, Fig. 26), the scales of the temple 
are many-sided and unequal, with a central layer; back granular and 
oblong, with shelving sides; throat fold distinct. Nothing can be 
more brilliant than the variegated colouring with which it is orna- 
* Very doubtful—our experience of them in the wild state having been quite 
the reverse.—ED. 
