37<J 



VERTEBRATA. 



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THE ANGUINE LIZARD. 



usually with a niotitatino- membrane. The body is eloiifyated, and generally of a somewhat 

 ovliudrit-al form, torraiuated posteriorly ^vith a very long, tapering tail, which is often much longer 

 than the bodv. The feet are well developed, and generally furnished with five distinct toes 

 of unequal length. The teeth are a little curved, and inserted in a slight furrow of the jaw ; 

 they are hollow at the base, and are not very firmly attached to the bone. These Lizards, which 

 must be regarded as the types of the Sauria, are confined to the countries of the eastern hemi- 

 sphere, over the whole of which they are pretty generally distributed. They feed on insects and 

 worms. 



Genus LACERTA : Lacerta. — To this belongs the Nimble Lizard, L. agilis — the Sand-Liz- 

 ard of England, Lezard of the French : 

 it is seven inches long ; color brown, 

 though there are green varieties. It 

 inhabits sandy heaths, runs with 

 agility, is very timid, but will attempt 

 to bite when captured. The female 

 lays twelve to fourteen eggs, which 

 she covers with sand, and leaves 

 them to be hatched by the heat. 

 Found in France, England, and the 

 middle countries of Europe ; is rare 

 in Denmark and Sweden. 



Genus ZOOTOCA: Zootoca, in- 

 cludes the Common European Liz- 

 ard, Z. vivipara, six inches long; 

 greenish-brown above ; orange be- 

 neath, spotted with black. The fe- 

 male of this species, instead of de- 

 positing her eggs in the sand and 

 leaving them to be hatched by the 

 heat of the sun, produces them alive, 

 five or six in number, perfectly 

 formed, and capable of at once run- 

 ning about. She however bestows 

 upon them a mother's care for a brief period. This is a graceful and gentle species, and is cap- 

 able of being tamed. It seems to be confined to Middle Europe ; it is found in England, Scot- 



THE SAND LIZARD. 



