REPTILES OF DORSET. 93 



SPHARGIS CORIACEA, Dum. ot Eib. 



Leathery Tmile. Bell's British Keptiles, 1849, p. 12. 



This species reaches a weight of seven to eight hundred pound.^, 

 and measures eight feet in length, Mr. Bell, on the authority of 

 Pennant, records one taken on the coast of Dorsetshire and 

 deposited in the Leverian IMuseum. Bell adds that he believes 

 this specimen to be now in the British Museum. 



ORDER SAURIA. 

 FAM. LACERTIDiE (Lizards). 



LACERTA AGILIS, Linn. 



Sa7id Lizard. Bell's British Reptiles, p. 18. 



The length of this reptile often reaches seven inches or 

 slightly over. It is a beautiful .species and probably well known 

 to most of our members who live in or near the heath 

 districts. Its colour varies from bright green to dark rich 

 brown, their hues being often intermingled in parts of the same 

 individual, and always marked with numerous bright white or 

 yellowish spots margined with black. In capturing this species 

 care should be taken not to hold it by the tail, as it at once 

 endeavours to get free by stiffening and snap])ing the tail oif. A 

 new tail will in time grow from the stump, but it is always of a 

 more stumpy form than the original one, and its junction is plainly 

 visible. I have frequently come across individuals with such 

 stumpy tails, and have conjectured that they may have been lost in 

 escaping from their enemy, the Smooth Snake (CoroncUa I('ri.'<), 

 which appears to feed upon this lizard. (See Proc. Dorset X. II. 

 and A. R Club, Vol. vii., p. 88.) 



This species may be kept alive in confinement. I have had 

 them in a glass case, with heather and grass on its floor, for months 

 together, feeding them with flies and other insects and keeping 

 a small saucer always full of water in the case, though I cannot say 

 that I ever saw one drink. They are very pretty objects when 

 basking in the sun, but with those kept in confinement I was not 



