THE GREEN LIZARD 47 



The color of this Lizard is very beautiful, rendering it one of the most lovely of its 

 tribe. The ground color of the body is bright, glittering green, as if covered with an armor 

 of emeralds, upon which are set, along the sides, some rather large, eye-like spots of rich 



EYED LlZAItD.— iaa/to occjtfato. (One-half natural size). 



azure. A kind of network of black is also spread over the body, sometimes running in 

 well-defined lines, and sometimes composed of I'ows of black dots. Tlie temples of the Eyed 

 Lizard are covered with unequal, many-sided scales, rather convex in their form. Its length 

 when full grown is about fifteen or sixteen inches, but it is very variable in size as well as in 

 color. 



A VERY beautiful species of this genus is common in many parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa. This is the Gkeen Lizard. As its name imports, this reptile is of a green color, 

 and with the exception of the preceding species, is as beautiful a creature as can be seen. 



Like the eyed Lizard, it haunts sunny spots, and may l)e found in orchards, gardens, 

 shrubberies, copses, and similar localities, where it can find plenty of food and obtain 

 concealment when alai'med. Old ruins, too, are greatly haunted by this beautiful Lizard, 

 which hits among the moss-covered stones with singular activity, lying at one moment as if 

 asleep in the sunbeams, or crawling slowly, as if unable to proceed at any smarter pace, and 

 then, when the hand is thrust towards it, disappearing with a rapidity that looks like magic. 



Since the great demand for ferneries and vivaria of different descriptions has arisen, this 

 Lizard is used as a beautiful ornament to a glass fern-case, and is sufiicieutly hardy to be kept 

 alive with a very little care. It seems to revel in the sunshine, and there are few objects more 



