LIZARDS. 317 



The Green Lizard is widely spread in the south 

 of Europe. It is common enough in the neighbourhood 

 of Nice, but not very easy to catch. Lacerta viridis 

 is much larger than the Sun Lizard. I have never 

 seen one in a town or village. The native name is 

 " Lambert." 



This species extends as far north as Jersey. 

 Gilbert White speaks of a " beautiful green lizard " 

 occurring in Devonshire, and also on the sunny sand- 

 banks near Farnham, in Surrey. But it is not certain 

 whether he refers to L. viridis or to the greenish 

 variety of the Sand-lizard (L. agilis) a much smaller 

 animal found near Poole, in Dorset. The green 

 lizard is easily tamed, and will eat out of the hand, 

 and drink from the hollow of the palm. If enclosed 

 in the hands, it likes the warmth, and makes no 

 effort to escape. 



The Ocellata is larger still, a miniature crocodile 

 with his gaping mouth and wriggling gait. Nothing 

 can be more beautiful than the colours of this animal 

 just after he has changed his skin. They appear to 

 be marked with burnished gold. When captured 

 they bite bravely, but are not strong enough to hurt. 

 The peasants accuse the Ocellata of eating grapes. 

 I do not know to what elevation this species extends, 

 but I have seen it at 3,000 feet, or a little over. 



The Blind Worm (Anguisfmgilis), here as else- 

 where taken for a snake, is abundant at the roots of 

 the Bamboo. 



A very curious creature, something like a Blind 

 Worm with legs, occurs here and there on the Kiviera. 

 The scientific name is Seps Chalcides, (Fig. 105). I have 

 seen this lizard in captivity, but I have never been 



