GECKOS, LIZARDS, AND CHAMELEONS. 93 



lizards are wanting, or reduced to the merest 

 vestiges. The common British "slow-worm" 

 (Anguis fragilis), and the curious " glass-snakes " 

 (Pseudopus) represent other members whose limbs 

 have completely disappeared. The latter are 

 extremely interesting on account of the manner 

 in which they kill their prey. This they do 

 either after the fashion of poisonous snakes, by 

 rapidly curling the body around the victim so as. 



FIG. 7. Lees of different species of lizards belonging to the Skink 

 tribe show the gradual evolution of the limbless condition. 



to crush it to death, or by shaking it till stunned. 

 At least, when seized "by man, the glass-snakes 

 do not attempt to bite, though armed with 

 powerful jaws. Instead, they instantly encircle 

 the hand or arm by coiling the body around it, 

 and then besmearing it with excrement which is 

 said to be peculiarly offensive on account of its. 

 powerful smell. 



The snake-like form of the lizards which we 

 have just described has been slowly acquired, in 



