THE SAND LIZARD. 



495 



viper, is in the habit of lying on a sunny bank before her young ones 

 are born, apparently for the purpose of gaining sufficient heat to hatch 

 the eggs. This process is aided by the thinness of the membrane cov- 

 ering the eggs. 



Until comparatively recent years the Sand Lizard was confounded 

 with the scaly lizard, which has just been described. 



Though quick and lively in its movements, it is not so dashingly 

 a -tive as the scaly lizard, having a touch of deliberation as it runs 



Lizards. y 



from one spot to another, while the scaly lizard almost seems to be acted 

 upon by hidden springs. 



Unlike the scaly lizard, this species lays its eggs in a convenient 

 spot, and then leaves them to be hatched by the warm sunbeams. 

 Sandy banks with a southern aspect are the favored resorts of this rep- 

 tile, which scoops out certain shallow pits in the sand, deix)sits her ^%^?^^ 

 covers them up, and then leaves them to their fate. Mr. Bell, who has 

 paid great attention to this subject, has remarked that the eggs are prolv 

 ably laid for a considerable period before the young are hatched from 

 them. 



A second tribe of Lizards now comes before our notice. These are 



