BCHBaJrOPUSJO. 



The ScheLtopusic is a native of the coast of Northern Africa, and is also found in 

 Dalmatia, the Morea, and parts of Siberia, where it is called by the title under which it is 

 now generally known. It seems to be rather a timid creature, and very mistrustful of 

 strange sights or sounds, always remaining within the vicinity of some familiar spot, 

 whither it seeks an immediate retreat if disturbed. 



Thickly wooded valleys, where the underwood is dark and dense, and the vegetation is 

 rank and heavy, are favourite localities of this harmless and weaponless reptile, which has 

 no mode of defence if attacked, and can only retreat from the approach of danger by 

 gliding silently under the brushwood and insinuating itself in some dark crevice, where it 

 lies secure. So watchful is this creature, that although its movements are rather slow, it is 

 not very easily captured, mostly gliding away in so silent a manner that it has reached its 

 haven of safety before its presence is even suspected. 



Even if it be seen and followed, it is not readily captured after once it has succeeded 

 in burying itself among the brushwood, for its colour is sufficiently sombre to harmonize 

 so well with the dark soil and dead sticks and leaves among which it resides, that its 

 outline can with difficulty be discerned, even by a practised eye. As is the case with . 

 most reptiles, it loves to emerge from its retreat and crawl to some spot where the 

 sunbeams have thoroughly warmed the ground, and there to lie basking in the genial 

 heat. While thus occupied, it is not so wary as at other times, and may be approached 

 and secured before it can make good its retreat. 



The whole aspect of this reptile is so serpentine that it has been attacked and killed 

 under the impression that it was a poisonous snake, and great has been the surprise of its 

 slayers to find that they had destroyed, not a venomous serpent, but a harmless Lizard. 

 This creature has been often captured alive and kept in confinement. In its wild state it 

 feeds mostly on insects, the smaller reptiles, and similar creatures, sometimes gliding into 

 a nest of newly hatched birds and swallowing them. This propensity was once exhibited 

 by a captive Scheltopusic ; it had fed very contentedly on hard-boiled eggs, until one 

 day it contrived to gain access to a nest full of very young birds, and swallowed the 

 whole brood. 



