SAURIA : LACERTID.E AND IGUANID^. 2Q5 



LACERTID^:, OR LIZARD FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises scaly reptiles which have the head in the form of 

 a quadrangular pyramid with the apex in front ; tongue 

 thin, more or less extensible, and with its base in some 

 cases lodged in a sheath, and its apex always bifid ; body 

 and tail much elongated, the latter in some cases several 

 times the length of the former ; feet four, five-toed, and 

 armed with nails ; the scales beneath the body and around 

 the tail arranged in transverse parallel bands, and the 

 abdominal scales always larger than those upon the back. 

 They are the most agile, beautiful, and innocent of all 

 the Sauria. The larger members live upon the ground, 

 but many of the smaller ones upon trees. The species 

 are numerous. 



The Genus Ameiva has the tail round, and the scales 

 of the belly broader than long. It contains the Six-lined 

 or Striped Lizard, A. Fig. 157. 



sex-lineata, Cuv., of 

 the Southern States, 

 which is nine to ten 

 inches or more long, 

 dark brown above, and 

 with six yellow, longi- 

 tudinal lines ; abdomen Six-lined Lizard, A . scx-limata, Cuv. 



bluish-silvery white. It is timid, harmless, quick in its 

 movements, runs swiftly, and feeds upon insects, which it 

 seeks at the close of the day. 



The Genus Lacerta contains the Monitor, L. nilotica, 

 Linn., of the Nile, which is five or six feet long, and is said 

 to destroy the eggs of the crocodile. It is sculptured on 

 the ancient monuments. 



IGUANIDJE, OR IGUANA FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises scaly reptiles which are lizard-like in general ap- 

 pearance, but which have their tongue thick, fleshy, non- 

 extensible, and only emarginated at the tip. 



