COXTOLVriXS HAWK MOTH. 



CHAPTER III 



Other Denizens of the Woods 



Central Europe is badly off for reptiles, but of these few species, some at least 

 may be found at times among bushes, and often dwell, though never exclusivel}', 

 in forests. As the distinctive features of both reptiles and amphibians are given 

 in works devoted more exclusively to the classification of animals, they need not 

 be referred to on this occasion. Neither need we stay to consider the groups into 

 which these cold-blooded creatures are divided. It is perhaps also superfluous to 

 refer to the characteristics of lizards, although it may be well to mention that 

 these reptiles have long cylindrical bodies, with scales on the back and sides, and 

 rows of cross-scales along the under-parts. The head is distinct from the throat, 

 with larger scales on the upper side ; and the tail is generally longer than the 

 rest of the body, but becomes thinner towards the tip, and has scales arranged in 

 a distinctive manner. Lizards typically possess five toes to each limb, while the 

 hind-limbs have a line of pores on the under side of the upper part of the thigh. 



The habits of the European species of lizards are in many respects very 

 similar. Every lizard seems to have its special hole ; and for the winter sleep, which 

 commences at the end of September or beginning of October, each withdraws to 

 its own hiding-place. At this time they lose their activity, which they recover 

 when awakened by the warmth of spring. Soon after they awaken, the pairing- 

 season commences, concurrently with the fights of the males, which are as jealous 

 as they are quarrelsome. Not quite two months later the female produces her 



young, or else lays eggs which are whitish and have shells that are soft when 



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