WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



that they are about to change their skins. 

 The old skin splits down the head and neck and 

 gradually peels off, leaving the late owner 

 bright and clean in its new clothes. I managed 

 to get a photograph of Jimmy when half-way 

 through the change, with her old skin hanging 

 in shreds from her neck and shoulders. When 

 the last bit had peeled off she looked quite a 

 different creature, for she was now prettily 

 marked with green, brown, and greyish yellow. 

 The common lizard varies very much ; no two 

 are alike, some being very dark, others quite 

 light, some having a good deal of green about 

 them, others brown, yellow, and stone colour. 



The young when first born are practically 

 black. They are wee creatures rather more 

 than an inch in length, and from the first can 

 run as fast as mice. The families are quite large, 

 numbering as many as nine or ten. Jemimia's 

 youngsters were nine in number, but, such being 

 the custom among lizards, she did not worry 

 herself about them, leaving them to look after 

 themselves as best they could. Little lizards 

 are quite independent from the moment that 

 they come into the world, and scamper off, 

 each on its own account, to catch wee insects 

 and such tiny things as they can pounce upon 

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