292 REPTILIA SAURIA. [LACERTA. 



larger, with the keel obsolete : caudal scales oblong, but becoming longer 

 and narrower as they approach the tip of the tail, each terminating below 

 in an obtuse point, and furnished with a longitudinal keel, which also 

 becomes more strongly marked towards the extremity : tail itself mode- 

 rately stout at its origin, but gradually tapering to a fine sharp point ; 

 with fifty-three (Duges says from fifty to eighty) whorls of the scales last 

 described : fore legs not reaching beyond the eyes, when placed against 

 the sides of the head ; strong, with the third toe a little longer than the 

 fourth ; all the claws strong and sharp, and more developed than those 

 on the hind feet : hind feet reaching to the carpus of the fore : thighs 

 very much compressed ; the number of femoral pores varying (according 

 to Duges) from twelve to fifteen, in this specimen, on the right thigh 

 thirteen, on the left fifteen. (Colours.) Said to be very variable. In my 

 specimen, the upper parts dark green, thickly spotted with black; a 

 broad interrupted fascia of dark greenish brown down the middle, con- 

 taining interrupted lines of yellow spots : under parts light bluish green, 

 with small black spots much less numerous than above. 



Of this species I have seen but two indigenous specimens, which 

 were obtained by W. Yarrell, Esq. from the neighbourhood of Poole 

 in Dorsetshire. For one of these I am indebted to the kindness of 

 that gentleman. It is common in France, and will probably be met 

 with in other parts of our own country, as soon as our native Reptiles 

 shall have received more attention from naturalists. It is very distinct 

 from the L. agilis, though at first sight, and without close examination, 

 it might pass for a large variety of that species. With its habits I am 

 unacquainted. Obs. The L. arenicola of Daudin is a variety of this 

 species. 



(1.) L. viridis, Daud. Hist. Nat. des Rept. torn. in. pi. 34. 

 Lacertus viridis, Ray, Syn. Quad. p. 264. Lteard piquett, 

 Edwards in Ann. des Sci. Nat. (1829) torn. xvi. p. 64. Lezard 

 vert, Duges, Id. p. 373. 



Larger, with the tail much longer in proportion to the body, than the 

 L. Stirpium. Occipital plate small, and triangular ; interparietal lozenge - 

 shaped ; frontal very large, quite as broad at its posterior as at its anterior 

 margin : collar consisting of eight lamellae ; the alternate ones smaller, and 

 of a triangular form : abdominal lamellae in six rows, the two middle ones 

 much narrower than the others : tail with upwards of a hundred whorls of 

 scales: toes long and slender; the third and fourth on the fore feet of 

 equal length : femoral pores from fifteen to eighteen. Colour generally a 

 brilliant green variegated with black specks on the back, flanks, and limbs : 

 abdominal lamellae plain yellowish green. Attains a length of eighteen 

 inches. 



This species, which is well known on the Continent and in the Island of 

 Guernsey, is said by Ray to be found in Ireland, but its existence in this 

 last country does not appear to have been confirmed by any subsequent 

 observer. It is also doubtful whether it be indigenous in any part of 

 England, though possibly the " beautiful green Lacerti" observed by 

 Mr. White "on the sunny sand-banks near Farnham, in Surrey,"* may 

 have belonged to this species. 



4. L. agilis, Berkenh. (Common Lizard.) Occipital 

 plate rudimentary ; frontal large, as broad behind as 



* Nat. Hist. ofSelborne: seventeenth letter to Mr. Pennant. 



