VIVIPAROUS LIZARD ; SAND LIZARD. 563 



covered above with small imbricated scales ; and below with 

 larger plates. The tongue is long and forked ; and there are 

 generally small teeth on the palate. To this group, which is 

 peculiar to the Old World, and most abundant in Southern 

 Europe and Western Asia, belong the only two species of 

 Saurians that inhabit our own country, the Viviparous Lizard, 

 and the Sand Lizard. The former derives its name from the 

 circumstance, that the eggs are hatched before leaving the 

 oviduct of the female ; so that the young are produced alive. 

 It frequents thickets, heaths, and sunny banks ; and several are 

 often seen in such situations basking in the summer's sun, and 

 watching for their insect prey. The females in particular 

 expose themselves to as much external warmth as possible, 

 during the time that the incubation of the eggs is going on within 

 them ; and this is not improbably connected with the unusual 

 development which these animals subsequently attain, in regard 

 to the acuteness of their senses, and the activity of their muscular 

 movements. They burrow in the ground, and retreat to their 

 hiding-places on the slightest alarm. The average length of this 

 species is about six inches. The Sand Lizard is larger than 

 the preceding, its length varying from seven to twelve inches ; 

 two varieties of it appear to exist, one being of a sandy-brown 

 colour, and the other having a mixture of green, more or less 

 decided. The ordinary residence of this species is on sandy 

 heaths ; and though less quick and active than the Viviparous 

 Lizard, it runs with considerable alertness. The greener variety, 

 however, seems to frequent more verdant localities. There is a 

 beautiful green species, nearly allied to the preceding, which is 

 common in the south of Europe, and which is frequently brought 

 over to this country in cages. It soon becomes very tame in 

 captivity, and will take flies from those to whom it is familiar. 

 In all these Lizards, the tail is extremely brittle ; so that it 

 snaps off at the slightest touch, when the attempt is made to 

 seize them by it. Nature has provided a remedy for this acci- 

 dent, by giving to the animals the power of forming a new tail ; 

 this organ has only a central cartilage, however, in place of the 

 bones, and is often covered with scales different from those of the 



