REPTILES. igi 



In Shropshire it has been found on the Weald Moors, 

 by Eyton, and more recently near Admaston, by Rev. 

 W. K. Wyley, and at Bromfield, by Mr. Henry Gray. 

 The last - named gentleman reports a very curious 

 incident witnessed there not long ago : a Sand Lizard 

 emerged in front of the observer from a bank close to 

 a field path, and ran across the path; it was followed 

 almost immediately by a Mole, which tracked out the 

 Lizard, apparently by scent, following it up through all 

 its turns and windings till eventually it came up with it, 

 seized it by the body, and bore it back in triumph to 

 the same hole from which it had previously issued ! If 

 it were not stated on such good authority, it would seem 

 unlikely that the Mole could overtake the Lizard, and 

 it is an interesting matter for consideration, how the 

 Mole, while still underground, could be aware of the 

 presence of the Lizard overhead. It is stated in books 

 that the mole will eat lizards, but the writer had not 

 previously met with an actual instance. The Sand 

 Lizard is less agile in its movements than the Common 

 Lizard, and this, of course, would be in the Mole's 

 favour in a trial of speed. Several species of Birds and 

 other Mammals, besides the Mole, eat lizards, and it is 

 a well-known fact that some of the larger tropical 

 lizards, such as the Iguana, are cooked and eaten by 

 the natives, and are said to be very toothsome dainties. 

 The Sand Lizard, unlike the common species, is ovipar- 

 ous, laying about a dozen eggs in a slight hollow scraped 

 in the ground, covering them with a thin layer of sand, 

 and leaving them there to be hatched by the heat of the 

 sun. The food and general habits are similar in both 

 species. The Sand Lizard is distinguished from the 



