40 THE SCALY LIZARD. 



The color of this little reptile is dark brown, with a perceptible purple gloss on the 

 back, diversified with six narrow streaks of yellow, one line on each side reaching from the 

 eye to the middle of the tail. The abdomen is bluish white, with a silvery lustre, and 

 the throat of silvery white. The length of this species is from nine to eleven inches. 



A brief notice must also be given of two curious species, also belonging to the same 

 family. The first is the SPURRED CENTROPYX, or SPURRED LIZARD (Chitropyx calcdtns], 

 so called from two pair of small, sharp, horny spikes, which are set at each side of the 

 base of the tail. The color of this species is olive-green above, with three streaks of a 

 paler hue, and a double series of black spots on the back. Below it is greenish white. 



The other species is the GREAT DRAGON (Ada Guianensis\ a native of tropical America. 

 This fine Lizard is generally from four to nearly six feet in length, and is strong and 

 nimble. It does not appear to be so good a swimmer as some of the preceding species, 

 but runs fast, and can climb trees with great agility. It is generally found among the 

 marshy and low-lying lands, though it spends more time on the land than in the water. 



It is a desperate fighter when attacked, and as it has a habit of hiding itself in a deep 

 burrow, and bites fiercely at the hand that is thrust forward to seize it, is not easily 

 captured. It is, however, much sought after, as its flesh is very good, and the eggs are 



SIX-LINED TARAQUINA. Caemldophorus sex-liaeatus. 



thought to be great delicacies. There are usually from thirty to forty eggs, 

 general color of this reptile is olive, yellow beneath, and mottled with brown. 



The 



THE true LIZARDS, or Lacertinidae, now come before our notice. The tongue of these 

 reptiles is long, flat, can be thrust out to some distance, and very deeply forked. The 

 teeth are hollowed at their roots, the scales are keeled, and the sides are flat. They are 

 scattered over the greater part of the globe. 



England possesses at least two examples of this family, one of which, the SCALY 

 LIZARD, is extremely common. 



This pretty little reptile is extremely plentiful upon heaths, banks, and commons, 

 where it may be seen darting about in its own quick, lively manner, flitting among the 

 grass stalks with a series of sharp, twisting springs, snapping up the unsuspecting flies 

 as they rest on the grass blades, and ever and anon slipping under shelter of a gorse 

 bush, or heather tuft, only to emerge in another moment brisk and lively as ever. 



These little creatures are so quick and sharp sighted, that it is not very easy to catch 

 them, especially if they are among gorse bushes, for they twist about so adroitly, that a 

 very smart movement of the hand is required to follow them, and the prickly points of 



