TJJE JylZJARpS.^^^ ^f \ /* 93 



producing a surprising transformation in the little creature. The 

 old garment of the previous year was so dingy as to show barely 

 any colour or pattern, when suddenly she appeared in pale delicate 

 sage-green, with stripes as dense as black velvet, the throat creamy- 

 white, and the belly of a very pale buff colour ; the whole of a 

 satiny softness, and shaded like a delicate shell. These colours 

 were retained during the summer, only becoming a trifle duller 

 and darker. Her second change was in twenty-four days, July 

 2oth ; the third in nineteen days, August 8th, and again in thirteen 

 days, August 2ist. August was very warm that year (1881), and 

 the bell glass in which they lived stood in a sunny window during 

 the hottest part of the day, which possibly induced the frequent 

 sloughings. The markings in Vivipara are less conspicuous than 

 in Agilis, having no white on the upper surface. There is a thin, 

 jagged black line down the middle of the back, and a broad 

 irregular stripe on each side of it, with a few faint spots in the 

 intervening spaces ; the under colours being very light in the 

 female, and of a warm yellowish or crimson tint in the male. In 

 character the scales are nearly similar to those of Agilis ; but in 

 form Vivipara is more slender and graceful, with a smaller, flatter 

 head, and more pointed snout. 



Zootica, the generic name by which it has been generally known, 

 and its specific Vivipara^ have the same signification, viz., pro- 

 ducing live young, which constitutes the principal difference 

 between the two species. As being more frequent, the smaller 

 one is known as the "common lizard," and is found as far north 

 as Scotland, and even in Ireland. It is accredited with the same 

 maternal instinct as the viper in affording refuge to its young in 

 its own oesophagus in times of danger. Several well-authenticated 

 instances of this are recorded, and it is desirable that renewed 

 observations may tend to throw more light on the occurrence. 



These little lizards require a frequent change of diet, or as 

 much variety as can be procured, because, in their natural state, 

 they catch any insects, caterpillars, etc., that may be in season. 

 In the early part of summer flies were taken eagerly ; but flies, 

 when caught, require to have their activity somewhat restricted, 

 and worms are often of an inconvenient size ; so there are some 

 rather painful drawbacks in keeping carnivorous pets. After a 

 time all, including Anguis fragilis, would eat no more flies. 

 Some instinct must have guided them in this ; and it occurred to 

 me that while flies were depositing eggs they might be obnoxious, 

 or even dangerous to the lizards as food ; but this is only supposi- 

 titious on my part. Caterpillars, if the smooth kind, were pounced 

 upon quickly. Centipedes none of the family would eat; and if 



