285 



GREATER SCINK. 



Lacerta'Rufescens. L. rufoflaxescens, pedibus breribus, cauda 



mediocri. 

 Yellowish-rufous Lizard, with short feet, and tail of moderate 



length. 



Lacertus Cyprius scincoides. Aldr. ovip. p. 660. 

 L. aurata. ? L. cauda tereti longiuscula, squamis rotundatis gla- 



dm, lateribus subfuscis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 568. 

 Lacerta maritima maxima, scu Crocodilus ex Arabia. Sd>. 2. 



p. 112.*. 105./. 3. 



THIS species much resembles the common or 

 officinal Scink, but is considerably larger, mea- 

 suring fifteen inches or more in length, from the 

 nose to the end of the tail, which latter is longer 

 in proportion than that of the Scink. The colour 

 of the whole animal is a pale rufous brown, with 

 a still paler stripe down the back, and along each 

 side: the head is covered in front with large 

 angular scales ; the body, limbs, and tail, with 

 rounded ones, which are more distinctly expressed, 

 or not quite so glossy and closely pressed to the 

 skin as in the true Scink : the legs are short and 

 thick, the feet pentadactyle and furnished with 

 small claws. It is, according to Seba, a native of 

 Arabia and Egypt, living both in land and water, 

 and often frequenting the shores of the Nile, &c. 

 It seems also to be found in som<r of the European 

 islands, and in particular in that of Cyprus, since 

 the Lacertus Cyprius Scincoides of Aldrovandus 

 appears to be the same animal : this latter is repre- 

 sented as of a deeper colour on the sides than on 



