SAUEIANS. 497 



SEVENTH FAMILY. Lacertida, (Lat. lacerta, lizard.) 



SLENDER-TONGUED LIZARDS. 



This family includes the Coelodonta, already defined ; and 

 which are found in the Old World. No true Lizard has yet 

 been discovered either in Australia or the Polynesian islands. 



In many respects, these and the American Teidse agree. The 

 body is rounded and elongated ; the tail generally exceeds the 

 body in length, and is always well developed ; the head is pyra 

 midal, flattened above, and covered with plates; the tympanum 

 is distinct, and sometimes externally apparent; the feet have each 

 four or five separate toes, armed with hooked claws ; the eyes 

 have the nictitating membrane in addition to the ordinary eye 

 lids; the mouth is very wide, and its edges are covered with 

 large (labial) plates; the teeth hollowed and placed in a groove 

 within the ridge of the jaw. 



The True Lizards inhabit all the warm countries of the Old 

 World, and some of those which are considered temperate ; but 

 in the latter, they pass the winter in a torpid state. When ex 

 cited by the heat of the sun, they are extremely active and 

 vivacious, the most so indeed of all the Saurians. It is, how 

 ever, only by sudden darts, and for short distances, that they 

 perform their movements. If these animals do not soon gain 

 their burrows, or hiding places, they become fatigued, and fall 

 an easy prey to their enemies. Hence, they never undertake 

 long excursions from their native spot, or from the retreat which 

 they have chosen. In their course over the ground, or when 

 making their way among tangled herbage, the movement of their 

 bodies is serpentine. They help themselves onward not simply 

 by their limbs, but also by the body, and especially the tail. The 

 latter is so brittle, that it breaks off easily, but it is soon renewed ; 

 the renewed part being clearly distinguishable by a difference of 

 coloring from the rest, and the vertebras, instead of being hard 

 and bony, are cartilaginous. 



Although quite inoffensive, Lizards defend themselves with 

 much energy when attacked, and bite more sharply than might 

 be supposed. The larger part of them feed upon insects; 

 though some of them prey upon small animals, such as mice or 

 frogs. 



The typical genus, Lacerta, contains species which are widely 

 spread over Europe and Africa, and remarkable for their brilliant 

 colors, as well as their quick movements. The Lizards of this 

 genus are easily distinguish ?d by the throat collar of broad 



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