" The Blind-Worm or Slow-Worm 



is in reality a legless lizard." 



THE SAND LIZARD, THE COMMON LIZARD, 

 AND THE SLOW -WORM 



T 



HE Sand Lizard is a beauti- 

 ful reptile found almost 

 exclusively, so far as our 

 country is concerned, in 

 the west of England. I 

 have, however, met with it 

 on a sandy heath dividing 

 Surrey from Hampshire. 

 It is an exceedingly shy and wild crea- 

 ture, taking alarm at the slightest sign 

 of danger and hastily retreating to any 

 form of cover that may afford conceal- 

 ment. In length it measures from seven 

 to nine or ten inches, more than half of 

 which is accounted for by its abnormal 

 tail. 



It varies to a considerable extent in 

 coloration and markings. The speci- 

 men figured in our plate was sandy brown 

 on the back, marked by broad zig-zag 

 bands of rich velvety brown, bordered 

 by two longitudinal lines of pale straw 

 colour. Between these lines along the 



whole length of the back a number of 

 yellowish white dots were distributed. 

 The sides were tinged with green, which 

 deepened in hue towards the under 

 parts. The female lays eggs which are 

 deposited in the sand, covered over, and 

 left to be hatched out by the heat of the 

 sun. 



The Common Lizard differs in many 

 respects from the species described above. 

 It is smaller, measuring only five or 

 six inches in length, much commoner, 

 being found in many parts of Great 

 Britain and even in Ireland, and brings 

 forth its young fully formed and quite 

 capable of running about and taking 

 care of themselves. 



Like its more beautiful, but less known 

 relative, the Sand Lizard, this species is 

 fond of sunning itself on banks, and may 

 be met with from the early spring until 

 late autumn during warm sunny days. 



Its tail is verv brittle and is liable to 



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