SAND LIZARD. 23 



glands, each placed in a scale, the middle of which is 

 pierced by the opening of the follicle. In some the scale 

 is very little larger than the pore, and appears almost like 

 a minute tuhe ; in others the scale is larger and triangular. 

 The use of these pores is not known. They vary exceed- 

 ingly in number, even in the same species : in this respect, 

 therefore, they afford no distinctive characters. 



In some species, in addition to the teeth which are 

 placed in the margins of the upper and lower jaws, there 

 are also a few very minute ones in the back part of the 

 palate, which may be readily felt by a pin or the point of 

 a penknife. The existence or absence of these palatine 

 teeth would, perhaps, scarcely be admissible alone as a 

 generic distinction ; but when combined with others, and 

 associated also with a marked difference of habit, it may 

 be admitted as a valuable, because a tangible and perma- 

 nent character. It is on this account that I have em- 

 ployed it as one of the means of generic discrimination 

 between our two English Lizards. 



I now proceed to the consideration of our first species. 



It has been well remarked by the Prince of Musignano, 

 whose knowledge of the European Vertebrata in general, 

 and of the Eeptilia in particular, is undoubtedly superior to 

 that of any other naturalist, that the Linnean term agilis 

 has been applied by the Zoologists of different countries to 

 that species of Lizard which is best known or most com- 

 mon in their own. Thus the Podarcis muralis^ the com- 

 mon Lizard of Italy and of France, has been so called by 

 Italian and French writers ; and our own little indigenous 

 species, so frequent in almost all parts of England, which I 

 shall presently describe under its proper appellation of 

 Zootoca vimpara, has hitherto received the same name from 

 every British naturalist who has written on the subject. 



