IQO FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



with the Sand Lizard, to exhibit a decided preference 

 for high ground. The Common Lizard usually lives on 

 or near to the ground, but the writer has seen it climb 

 the stem of a big gorse bush to reach a sunny place 

 to bask in. If kept in a fern-case, the Lizard makes a 

 pretty and interesting pet, and soon loses its shyness. 

 To capture one it is best to employ a butterfly-net, 

 and great care has to be used in handling it, for, if 

 seized by the tail, that member immediately breaks off 

 in the hands of the captor, and commences a series 

 of lively contortions, while the Lizard makes its escape. 

 The severed tail retains its power of independent motion 

 for several minutes. This extraordinary self-mutilation 

 is performed voluntarily by the reptile, and is effected by 

 the sudden violent contraction of certain muscles in the 

 tail. A fresh tail is soon formed in place of the lost one, 

 but it is slightly smaller than the original, and shows 

 a mark at the point of severance. This phenomenon 

 occurs in all Lizards, and it is said that they will 

 reproduce a lost limb in the same way. Occasionally 

 Lizards have been found with two tails ; in these cases 

 the original tail had been only partially severed, but 

 a second one had grown from the wounded spot. The 

 colour of the Common Lizard is greenish-brown, with 

 black lines along the whole length of the back, and the 

 under-parts are yellow with black spots. The head is 

 flatter, and the scales on the body larger than in the 

 Sand Lizard, while the whole animal is smaller, rarely 

 exceeding six inches in length. 



SAND LIZARD. Less common than the preceding, this 



L. agilis. species is found more frequently on 



low-lying ground and on sandy heaths. 



