SCALED REPTILES LIZARDS. 409 



The typical family of the sub-order is exclusively an Old World one, and is 

 spread over the three great continents, although unknown in the island of 

 Madagascar and likewise in the Australasian countries. 

 From their New World cousins the Teiidce, these lizards Family 



may be readily distinguished by the circumstance that a com- Lacertida'. 

 plete roof of bones developed in the deep layer of the skin 

 covers the hinder lateral regions of the skull, and also by the fact that the 

 shields of the head are attached to the bones of the skull. They further 

 differ and thereby resemble the Amphisbtenidce in having the two anterior 

 upper jaw-bones, or premaxillse, immovably united in front. In none are the 

 limbs aborted ; and in all cases the feet terminate in five complete toes. The 

 general form is too well known to require mention ; and it is in these lizards 

 that the long tail breaks off so readily at or near the middle. The teeth have 

 hollowed bases, and are attached to the jaws in the pleurodont manner ; and 

 the tongue has the form of an arrow-head. Distinct eyelids, which can gener- 

 ally be closed, are developed ; and the drum of the ear is visible from the 

 outside. In none of these lizards are bony plates developed in the skin beneath 

 the scales ; and while the scales of the back may either overlap one another 

 or have their edges in contact, those on the under surface of the body are 

 arranged in transverse and longitudinal series, and are usually superior in size 

 to those above. The family, which includes seventeen generic types and some- 

 where about a hundred species, attains its maximum development in Africa, 

 being but poorly represented in the Oriental countries. While several species 

 are met witli in the south of Europe, two only are found in Britain, where, 

 with the blind-worm, they are the sole representatives of the sub-order 

 Lacertilia. All are fond of sunny localities, where their brisk movements and 

 beautiful metallic tints render them attractive to all who do not possess an 

 instinctive dislike to everything in the shape of a reptile. Flies, beetles, and 

 slugs form their chief food ; and as in the colder parts of Europe and Asia, 

 these are not to be seen abroad in winter, lizards are perforce compelled to 

 follow suit and pass the dull winter months in a state of torpor, either buried 

 beneath the ground, or safely ensconced in clefts and crannies. Although 

 one species produces its young alive, the rest lay eggs. 



Both the British species belong to the typical genus Lacerta ; and of these 

 the smaller is the viviparous lizard (L. vivipara), which grows to a length of 

 seven inches, and takes its name from the aforesaid peculiarity in its domestic 

 arrangements. The second is the sand-lizard (L. agilis), which may measure 

 between eight and ten inches in length, and ranges as far north as Sweden 

 and Norway. More beautiful and considerably larger than either of the 

 foregoing is the green lizard (L. mridis\ ranging from Southern Europe 

 through the Mediterranean countries to Persia. The northern limits are 

 Germany, where this lizard never reaches the dimensions it attains in more 

 favoured climes. Yet another South European species is the pearly lizard 

 {L. ocellata), easily recognised by the presence of a row of large blue spots 

 on each side of the body, the general colour of the upper-parts being in some 

 cases green, with dots or a network of black, but in others dark olive with 

 yellowish markings. This species is larger than any of the foregoing, some* 

 times measuring as much as twenty-three inches in length. It would be im- 

 possible in the space available to give the names and characteristics of all the 

 seventeen genera included in the family. It may, however, be mentioned 

 that in Southern Europe there occur three lizards belonging to a closely allied 

 genus known as Algiroides, differing from Lacerta by the larger size of the 



