ZOOLOGY. 



2. The head of Coronella Icevis, it will be at 

 once evident, is exceedingly small, compared with 



i, The Common Ringed Snake (Coluber natrix) ; 2, The 

 Small-crowned Smooth Snake ( Coronella Iczvis) ; 3, 

 The Common Viper or Adder (Pelias berus). 



the other two ; moreover, it is rounder, and more 

 like the head of a lizard, and carried in a more 

 erect position than the head of the ring-snake. 

 The plating on the top of the head is very like that 

 of the ring-snake, but the lateral plates differ from 

 Ihose of the viper. One marked peculiarity in the 

 head of Coronella Icevis is that it is beautifully 

 iridescent, and of bronze green colour. There is 

 but a very imperfect V-mark not at all distinct, 

 like the brand on the viper, being broken or im- 

 perfect at the sharp terminal angles, while that on 

 the viper is complete. The general colour of the 

 skin is brown ; and it is remarkable for its almost 

 polished smoothness, which gives the reptile its 

 name, Itzvis. Two rows of dark spots run along 

 the sides of the back, which at once distinguish it 

 from the viper, with its zigzag marking. The belly 

 is a brightish orange colour. 



3. The head of the viper, it will be observed, is 

 not shaped like the head of the snake ; it is per- 

 fectly flat. The viper has no collar encircling the 

 neck, but instead the letter V distinctly marked on 

 the back part of the head, as will be more plainly 

 seen by reversing the illustration. It really would 

 almost appear that nature had branded this, the 

 only poisonous reptile inhabiting our land, so that 

 people might the more easily recognise and avoid 

 it, with V, the first letter in the name viper. Con- 

 tinuing from this V-marking, a diamond-shaped 

 pattern of a dark colour extends along the whole 

 line of the back. The general colour of the body 

 is extremely variable, being influenced by local 

 conditions. 



With respect to its dangerous properties, Mr 

 Bell remarks : 'In this country, I have never seen 

 a case which terminated in death, nor have I been 

 able to trace to an authentic source any of the 

 numerous reports of such a termination. At the 

 same time, the symptoms are frequently so threat- 

 ening, that I cannot but conclude that in very hot 

 weather, and when not only the reptile is in full 

 activity and power, but the constitution of the 

 victim in a state of great irritability and diminished 

 power, a bite from the common viper would very 

 probably prove fatal. The poisonous fluid is per- 

 fectly innocuous when swallowed. Dr Mead and 

 others have made this experiment, and never ex- 



perienced the slightest ill effects from it It is, 

 however, clear that there would be danger in 

 swallowing it were any part of the mouth, the 

 throat, or the oesophagus in a state ot ulceration, 

 or having an abraded surface.' 



The family of the Lacertida (Lizards) have 

 four limbs, terminated by five toes of unequal 

 lengths. Their tongues are long, slender, and 

 protrusile. Their bodies are covered with scales, 

 and the head and abdomen with large regular 

 plates or ' scuta.' They are terrestrial in their 

 habits, as their rounded tail indicates. They vary 

 from five to thirty inches in length. They feed 

 upon frogs, insects, and small mammals. The 

 Scaly Lizard (Zootoca vivipara), which is vivipar- 

 ous, whence its specific name, is found abundantly 

 in this country on dry banks and sandy heaths, 

 where it may be observed basking in the sunshine, 

 watching for its insect prey. The Lacerta agilis 



I, Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) ; 2, Sand Lizard 



(Lacerta agilis). 



(Sand Lizard) is found in England, and the L. 

 viridis (Green Lizard) is common in Jersey. 



The Varanidce (Monitors) are closely allied to 

 the former, but differ from them in having the 

 head and abdomen covered with ordinary scales. 

 They sometimes measure six feet in length for 

 example, the Varanus Nilotus of Egypt. They 

 are also called Monitors, because they warn each 

 other of the approach of an enemy by a shrill 

 whistling sound. They are confined to the Old 

 World. 



Family Iguanidce (Iguana, or Guana Lizards) 

 are distinguished from the true lizards by a 

 short and thick tongue, with the extremity very 

 slightly cleft. It contains several genera. Iguanas, 

 properly so called, are covered with small scales, 

 and they have a dorsal crest and a compressed 

 tail, and are confined to the New World. A large 

 thin fold of skin, or dewlap, hangs from under the 

 throat. Each jaw has a range of triangular teeth, 

 with finely sharpened edges, and a double row 

 also on the palate. They feed upon vegetable 

 substances, and live chiefly upon trees. They 

 sometimes measure four feet in length ; and both 

 their flesh and eggs are esteemed as delicacies. 

 One of the most remarkable American species 

 is the Basilisk (Basiliscus Americanus), which, 

 although perfectly harmless, is one of the most 

 forbidding of reptiles. It is distinguished by a 

 mitre-shaped crest on the top of its head. The 



