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CAPE SPINE-FOOT. Acanthodactylu*. 



The sides have a tinge of green more or less distinct, and the under surface is white. In 

 some individuals the green is very distinct, and Mr. Bell thinks with some reason that the 

 many written accounts of discovering the green or Jersey Lizard in England, may be 

 referred to the green variety of this species, which shone with peculiar lustre in consequence 

 of the sunbeams being reflected from the shining sides. I know of one instance where the 

 true Lacerta viridis was captured and killed near Oxford, but I believe that it must have 

 been a wanderer from one of the numerous fern-cases that are to be seen in so many 

 houses. The average length of the Sand Lizard is about seven inches or a little more. 



PASSING by a series of genera affording but few interesting points, we come to the 

 curious animal called the CAPE SPINE-FOOT. The generic name Acanthodactylus, signifies 

 Thorn, or Spine-toed, and is very appropriately given to this animal and the other species of 

 the same genus. All the Spine-foot Lizards are inhabitants of Africa, and most of them 

 are found towards the northern portion of that continent. 



According to Dr. Smith, " this Lizard is found on the sandy districts of Great Namaqua- 

 land, and where the surface of the country is irregular it is generally met on the highest 

 spots. Where small sand-hills occur, it resorts to them in preference to the other localities, 

 aad from the peculiar assistance it derives from the serrated fringes which edge its toes, it 

 runs over the loose sand on the steep surfaces of those slopes with great activity. It feeds 

 on insects." 



The colour of this Lizard is a very peculiar brown above, changing from yellow-brown 

 to a much warmer hue, partaking of the orange. The top of the head is mottled with 

 dark brown, and the back is freckled with the same hue. From the eyes run two whitish 

 bands on each side, the lower terminating at the hind leg and the upper reaching some 

 distance along the tail. Between and about these bands are bold brown mottlings in the 

 male, and an orange wash in the female. The upper part of the legs are also mottled with 

 dark brown. The toes are very long, especially those of the hind foot, and are edged with 

 a fringe composed of sharply pointed scales. The female is larger and more clumsily made 

 than the male. 



ANOTHER pretty species of Lizard, termed the NAMAQTJA EEEMIAS, is found in the 

 portion of Africa from which it derives its name. The name Eremias signifies a dweller in a 

 wilderness, and is given to this and several other species because it is always found in hot 

 and arid situations, the sandy flats between Cape Town and Little Namaqua-land being 

 its most favoured localities. 



