REPTILES. l8g 



Elliott reports it as common in the Wyre Forest, and 

 Mr. Martin J. Harding says he has seen it frequently 

 along the old Potteries Railway line, near Shrewsbury. 

 Like other reptiles, the Lizard is fond of basking in the 

 sun, and when thus engaged will often allow itself to be 

 approached very closely. As a rule, however, it is very 

 timid, and, on the least alarm, darts off to its lurking 

 place in a crevice between stones, etc. The most marked 

 peculiarity of this species is that the eggs are hatched 

 inside the parent's body, so that the young are apparently 

 born alive as in the Mammals hence it is called the 

 Viviparous Lizard. The resemblance to mammalian 

 generation is, however, only superficial, for each embryo 

 is contained in a separate egg with the enclosing mem- 

 branes, exactly as in those reptiles that deposit eggs in 

 the ordinary way. The female when breeding lies in 

 the sun as much as possible, to facilitate the hatching 

 of the eggs, and at such times is very unwilling to be 

 disturbed. The young generally three or four in 

 number are almost black, and have the use of their 

 legs as soon as they are born. Just at first they keep 

 with the mother, but, so far as is known, she does not 

 feed them, and driven by the feeling of hunger, they 

 soon learn to catch insects, etc., for themselves. The 

 tongue and mouth are chiefly used in capturing their 

 prey, the limbs being used only for progression. All 

 the movements of the Lizard are graceful and lively, 

 and if an insect comes within reach it darts upon and 

 swallows it with the rapidity of lightning. The food 

 is entirely of an animal nature, and consists principally 

 of insects, worms, and slugs. It is said to take readily 

 to the water, and to swim rapidly, and, in comparison 



