26 VERTEBRATA. REPTILIA. 



palate is armed with two rows of teeth ; whose neck is 

 furnished with a collar formed of large scales, sepa- 

 rate from those on the breast, and loosely overlap- 

 ping them ; and whose skull projects in a ridge over 

 the eyes. The head is covered with broad plates ; 

 the scales of the back do not overlap each other. 

 On the inner surface of the thighs the scales are per- 

 forated with pores, the use of which is unknown. 

 Our own two species, the only Saurians we possess, 

 the Sand Lizard (L. Agilis), and the Viviparous Li- 

 zard (L. Vivipard), belong to this genus. We prefer, 

 however, to give a slight notice of the Great Green 

 Lizard (L. Ocellata). This is the most beautiful of 

 the tribe ; it is more than a foot long, of a brilliant 

 green, which glistens with a golden lustre in the sun, 

 marked with lines of black dots, forming rings, or 

 eyes. In the whole South of Europe it is frequently 

 seen on dry heaths and banks, climbing on the bushes 

 and hedges, and over rocks, searching for insects. It 

 is stated that this lovely reptile captures and devours 

 frogs, and even shrews and mice, and that it seeks 

 out the eggs of small birds. In the stomach of one 

 dissected by M. Poiriet, a smaller lizard, of another 

 species, was found entire. It does not seem to be 

 much afraid even of man, biting with great violence 

 the end of a stick held to it. It will even leap up, 

 and fasten on the muzzle of a dog, if attacked, and 

 will sooner die than relinquish its hold. The vulgar 

 regard its bite as venomous, but this is an unfounded 

 supposition. 



