LIZARDS 75 



or even in rainy weather ; it is nevertheless fond of bask- 

 ing in the sun, and a combination of dampness and sunshine 

 appears to be its ideal condition. 



When in good health, it sheds the outer coating of its 

 epidermis whole, as do snakes ; other Anguids, Gerrhonotus, 

 for instance, have been observed to do the same. The 

 young, about six to twenty at a litter, are born alive, and 

 are distinguished from the grey or reddish-brown parents 

 by their striking livery : silvery white above, black beneath, 

 with a black streak along the middle of the head and 

 back. 



The Slow-worm can be kept for years in captivity if 

 provided with damp moss and plenty of slugs or small 

 earth-worms ; the young will take small spiders and 

 insects, which are usually despised by the adult. 



The allies of the Slow- worm, which are provided 

 with well-developed limbs, constitute the genus Diplo- 

 glossus, inhabiting the West Indies and Tropical America. 

 The Gerrhonotus of North and Central America, belong- 

 ing to the division with a lateral fold, are also lizard-like 

 and lead to the Ophisaurus, in which the limbs are absent, 

 or reduced to minute external rudiments of the hind 

 pair. 



There are six species of Ophisaurus, from North America, 

 Asia, and Europe. The European Glass-snake, or 

 ScHELTOPusiK (a Russiau name), O. apus, has tiny, flap-like 

 rudiments of hind limbs. It is a large creature, reaching 

 a length of three to four feet, and inhabiting the wooded 

 districts of South-East Europe ; its name. Glass-snake, has 

 the same meaning as that oi fragilis applied to the Slow- 

 worm. It feeds principally upon mice. 



