5 



THE SCHELTOPUSIC. 



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 favorite 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 color is sufficiently sombre to har- 



SCHELTOPUSIC.-Pseudopus Pallasll. 



monize 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, some- 

 times gliding into a nest of newly-hatched birds and swallowing them. This propen- 

 sity 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. 



