CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 3. SAURIA. 



37r 



land, and even in Ireland, an evidence that St. Patrick, who has the credit of having destroyed 

 the reptiles in the favored Emerald Isle, must have confined his operations to the venomous 

 species. 



The OcELLATED LizARD, L. occllata, is a very beautiful species, a foot in length, of a fine 

 o-reen color, reticulated and spotted with black, and adorned with blue spots on the side of the 

 bodv. It is abundant iu Italy, Spain, the south of France, and Africa. 



THE AMEIYID^. 



These, which are American animals, seem to take the place of the Lacertida? upon this conti- 

 nent. They resemble them in their general characteristics, but differ in having solid teeth, firmly 

 attached to the jaws. They live on the ground in woods and hedges, and feed principally upon 

 insects, though they sometimes devour small vertebrate animals. 



Genus TEIUS ; Teius. — This includes the Teguexin or Variegated Lizard, found in Brazil 



and Guiana. It sometimes measures 

 six feet in length, and is very voracious, 

 preying upon mice, frogs, and other 

 small animals; it is said occasionally to 

 visit the poultiy-yards, and to feed on 

 the chickens and eo-o-s. Its flesh is 

 white, and not unlike that of a fowl in 

 flavor. AMien pursued it does not allow 

 itself to be taken without a struggle ; 

 it runs with great swiftness, and strikes 

 such violent blows at the dogs with its 

 tail, that they do not readily venture to 

 attack it. When brought to bay, it 

 fights boldly, and inflicts severe bites upon any thing that comes within its reach. It is fond 

 of honey, and attacks the bee-hives with blows of its tail, each time, after having given a 

 stroke, running away to escape the stings. In this way it wearies out the bees, who finally quit 

 their home and leave the honey to their enemj , 



Germs AMEIVA : Ameiva. — These are elegant and inofi'ensive little lizards, abounding in the 

 West Indies ; one species is found in the United States, from Carolina to Florida : this is the 

 Six-lined Lizard, A. sexlineata, dark brown above, with six yellow longitudinal lines ; length 

 twelve inches. A species called A. tessellata is said to be found iu Arkansas. 



THE VARIEGATED LIZAliD. 



THE VAEANID^. 



Tliese, which are called the Broad-backed Lizards, and derive their name from the genus Varanus, 

 comprise the largest species of known lizards ; they resemble the preceding families in the form 

 of their bodies, and in the constant development of the limbs, but difter from them in having 

 the head and belly covered with scales resembling those of the rest of the body, instead of the 

 shield-like plates which form the clothing of those parts in the Lacertida) and Ameivida^. The 

 head is elongated, and the tongue, which is very long and distinctly bifid, like that of a snake, 

 is received at the base in a membraneous sheath. The tail is very long, usually compressed and 

 keeled, and the feet large, and furnished with long toes terminated by strong claws. They run 

 swiftly, with a serpentine motion ; and feed on locusts, crickets, and beetles, and some of the 

 larger species on the eggs of birds and crocodiles, chameleons, fish, and tortoises. 



Genus MONITOR : Monitor, includes several species. The Egyptian Monitor, M. Nilofmis, 

 attains the length of five or six feet ; it lives in the neighborhood of water, and is said to devour 

 the eggs of crocodiles ; common in Egypt, where the people hold it to be a dwindled crocodile. 

 It is figured on the ancient monuments. 



Genus HELODERMA: Heloderma.— To this belongs the Caltetepon, H. horridum, which 

 is distinguished by furrowed fangs in the anterior portion of its jaws. It is aquatic in its habits, 



Vol. II.— 48. 



