36 OUR REPTILES. 



of, is that which was killed near Woscot, in the parish of 

 Swinford, Worcestershire, in 1741, which was two feet six 

 inches long and four inches in girth. The fore legs were 

 placed eight inches from the head, the hind legs five inches 

 beyond those : the legs two inches long, the feet divided 

 into four toes, each furnished with a sharp claw. Another 

 was killed at Penbury, in the same county. Whether these 

 are not of exotic descent, and whether the breed continues, 

 we are at present uninformed. 



This reptile is found inhabiting the greater part 

 of Central and Southern Europe, including 

 France as far north as Paris. It is very com- 

 mon in the south of that country, all over Italy 

 and the south of Switzerland ; is found in Sicily, 

 Greece, Poland, Austria, the Crimea, and Bar- 

 bary.* 



This is a really fine lizard, large, beautiful, 

 and attractive, at least as much so as a reptile 

 can be. Its entire length seldom exceeds fifteen 

 inches, though sometimes attaining eighteen 

 inches in the Morea. Although the colouring is 

 very variable, green is a prevailing tint. The 

 upper surface is sometimes of a uniform green, 

 at others green with yellow spots, and occa- 

 sionally brown with green or white markings, 

 rarely brown with white streaks edged with 

 black. The lower surface is usually yellow. It 

 occurs on hedge-banks and grassy places. 



* Lord Clermont's " Quadrupeds and Keptiles of Europe," 

 p. 1 



