160 OTHER DENIZENS OF THE WOODS 



tip. The range of this species extends from Lapland to north Italy, and from 



Ireland to the borders of the Pacific : it is also found in the central and southern 



districts of Russia but does not seem to go south of the Pyrenees. On the Continent 



it is not so well known as the sand-lizard, since it keeps to certain localities and 



situations, as, for instance, the higher mountain-ranges, and marshy spots in woods 



and meadows. It likes the wilderness, where it seeks shelter beneath low bushes. 



moss, roots, the bark of tree-stumps, fallen cones, or stones. In the mountains of 



central Germany it ranges to the crests, while in the Alps it ascends to the highest 



forests, and sometimes even beyond the snow-line. In the Bavarian and Tyrolean 



Alps, this lizard has been found at a height of 6500 to 7250 feet, on Mont Blanc 



as high as 9000 feet, and once, near the Wormser, at an elevation which is covered 



with snow during nine months, and where an insect rarely strays. Indeed, of all 



European reptiles this species ranges farthest north, and ascends highest up the 



mountains. It appears as soon as sunshine follows rain ; in captivity it shows its 



liking for water by sitting for hours in a bath, and when at liberty crosses pools 



and ditches, and takes to the water when in danger. In small streams it has been 



observed to dive suddenly, and swim or crawl to a familiar hole beneath the 



surface, through which it tries to reach dry ground. In spring it leaves its 



winter haunt sooner than the sand-lizard, but nevertheless cannot exist without 



sunshine, and not only keeps among moss and shrubs out of the shade, but in 



autumn and spring climbs up tree-trunks to get all the sun it can. In general 



habits it is quiet and inoffensive, making no attempt to defend itself when 



caught, but trying to escape as soon as possible. It is by no means difficult 



to catch, although it finds good covert in tall grass, and adroitly slips along 



between the stems. The earth-coloured skin preserves it from its enemies, at 



least when it is among dark-coloured leaves and fir-cones. It is a voracious 



feeder, disposing in a surprisingly rapid manner of worms of any size, which, 



with millipedes and insect larva?, for which it will go into the water, form its 



principal food. 



This lizard is distinguished from its kindred by bringing forth living young 



which are enclosed in an egg-shell for a few seconds only. The young are born 



sometimes at the end of June, sometimes not till September. They are described 



as charming pets, some kept alive by a collector being fed on aphides, of which 



they seemed very fond. 



Perhaps the best known species is the sand-lizard (Lacerta 

 Sand-Lizard. ., . ~ . 



agihs), which is found throughout the greater part of the Continent 



its range extending from the north German lowlands northwards to Denmark, 



westwards to the Netherlands, and eastwards to the Russian plains. In England it 



occurs only in the southern counties, and it is never seen in Scotland or Ireland. 



It is seldom found in Belgium, although frequent in Luxemburg; and, with the 



exception of a few southern districts, inhabits the whole of France, but is not 



found south of the Pyrenees or the central Alps. In the Tyrol it is confined to 



the northern districts, and in Switzerland it has not yet been detected in the south 



Grisons, nor in the cantons of Ticino or Valais ; in the countries south of the 



Danube it has only been noticed in Bosnia. Frequenting all the Russian coasts of 



the Black Sea, this species also ranges from European Russia into western Siberia. 



