44 THE NAMAQUA EREMIAS. 



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 Laccrta riridis 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 Nam- 

 aqua-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 



CAPE SPIKE-FOOT. -Acaathodactylus. 



other localities, and 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 color 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 reach- 

 ing 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 NAMAQUA EREMIAS, 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 favored localities. 



