Fig. b. The Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) is a 
very active little creature measuring about a span 
in length. The female is greyish brown whilst the 
male is of a bright greenish colour on the sides. In 
the summer they feed on insects and in the winter they 
hibernate. They are easily tamed if well fed and will 
take their food out of the hand. The yellowish-white 
eggs are covered with a parchment-like skin and are 
found in April or May among stones or sand in 
sunny places. 
Fig. c. The Wall Lizard (Lacerta muralts) is 
longer and more slender than the last species. Its 
back is spotted with green, brown and black and 
its belly is white or reddish. The muzzle is very 
pointed, the scales on the back are small and granular, 
and there is a small plate among the scales on the 
temples. [t is common in Southern and in many parts 
of Central Europe, and is often seen about walls, 
where it hides in the crevices, and is extremely active. 
The Iguanas have a short, broad obtuse head, 
cylindrical body, and long tapering tail. The tongue 
is thick, short and fleshy, free only at the extremity, 
and notextensile. There is often a spiny crest running 
along the back, large throat-pouches, and other curious 
dermal appendages, which are sometimes supported 
by bones, and occasionally serve as a parachute. The 
legs are well developed, and the toes are long and 
slender, and armed with claws. The Iguanas feed 
on insects, and also on leaves and fruits. Some are 
found in rocky places, whilst others live on trees. 
They inhabit both the Old World and America. 
Fig. d. The Iguana (/gwana tuberculata) is an 
inhabitant of tropical America, where its flesh and 
eggs are regarded as a delicacy. It is a large lizard, 
measuring from three to five feet in length. The 
whole body is covered with small scales the colour 
of which varies from bluish green to yellow. An 
upright spiny crest runs along the back, and there 
is a spiny pouch on the throat. 
Fig. e. The Basilisk (Baseliscus vulgaris) is a 
harmless animal, which was regarded as extremely 
venomous by the early naturalists, and indeed 
this lizard which is twelve inches long, looks very 
uncanny. Its colour is bluish grey varied with white 
spots. Behind the head is a protuberance which can 
be inflated, and somewhat resembles a monk's cowl. 
There is a crest on the back and on a great part 
of the tail, and there is also a pouch beneath the 
Order IV. 
The animals included in this Order are very 
unlike any other Reptiles. The whole animal is 
clothed with an armour of bony plates covered with 
horn. This is composed of broad ribs fused with 
the vertebrae and with the breastbone. It contains 
the thoracic and abdominal organs, the bones of the 
shoulder and the pelvis, and the muscles acting on the 
upper part of the limbs. The only movable vertebrz are 
those of the neck and tail. Teeth are replaced in the 
Chelonians by a hard horny beak similar to that of birds. 
They also resemble birds in having acloaca or common 
outlet for the contents of the bladder and intestines, 
and for the generative products. Moreover they lay 
hard-shelled eggs, which they do not sit upon, but 
bury in the sand or earth. Their tenacity of life 
and the age which they sometimes attain are extra- 
ordinary; and the length of time which they can 
exist without food is also remarkable. They live 




5 
throat. It is found in South America, especially in 
dry, stony places where it feeds on insects, worms &c. 
It can also climb trees, and swims well. 
Fig. f. The Flying Dragon (Draco volans) not- 
withstanding its resemblance in form to the dragons of 
the old story-books, is only a small East Indian lizard 
of about six inches in length, which feeds on insects, 
and is enabled to float from tree by a parachute- 
like expansion of skin, supported by prolongations 
of the ribs. 
The Chameleons are small lizards with a broad 
angular head, terminating behind in a kind of crest. 
They have a wide gape, and a long extensile and 
vermiform tongue, which they dart out at insects 
with lightning-like rapidity. The eyes are large and 
circular, each covered by only a single eye-lid. The 
body is laterally compressed, and the crest on the 
back is continued on the long prehensile tail. The 
legs are moderately long and slender, and the 
toes are opposible, as in climbing birds. The skin 
varies in colour according to the surroundings or 
emotions of the animal. 
Fig. a. The common Chameleon (Chameleo 
vulgaris) is a sluggish animal which creeps slowly 
from branch to branch on trees and shrubs in search 
of insects, which it catches with its slimy tonguc. 
The eyes move quite independently, so that one may 
be looking upwards and the other downwards. The 
Chameleon inhabits South Europe, India and Africa. 
In the Blindworms, the body is rounded, the 
head is triangular and there is no distinct division 
between the head, body and tail. The upper surface 
of the head is covered with plates but the rest of the body 
is scaly. The tongue is free and slightly extensile. 
The eyelids are freely movable. The limbs are 
short and weak, or entirely undeveloped. These 
reptiles live under stones in dry sandy places, and 
feed on insects, worms &c. 
Plate Ill. Fig. d. The Blindworm (Azguzs 
fragilis) was formerly regarded as a snake, but it is 
really a lizard, in spite of the absence of limbs. The 
body, which is cylindrical, and covered with shining 
brown scales, is as wide as the head, and the skull is 
shaped like that of a lizard. The Blindworm ts about 
a foot in length. It prefers sunny places, and feeds 
on worms, insects and slugs. It is perfectly harm- 
less, and so brittle that the slightest injury suffices 
| to break off the tail. 
Chelonia. 
either in the sea, in rivers and swamps, or on land, 
and feed on snails, worms, and small fish, Some 
feed also on vegetable substances. They inhabit 
both hemispheres. 
In the Land Tortoises (Zestudinid@) the back- 
plate or carapace is high and arched, with narrow 
openings before and behind to receive the head, 
limbs and tail. The head is short and the legs moder- 
ately long. The toes are united into a thick mass, 
and are armed with horny claws. They are found 
in woods and thickets in warm countries. 
Plate VUI. fig. b. The Common Land Tortoise 
(Testudo greca) is found on all the coasts of the 
Mediterranean. It is prettily coloured, the yellow 
plates are bordered with black, or the colours are 
reversed. It feeds on tender plants, insects, worms &c. 
In South Europe, where these animals are esteemed as 
anarticle of diet, they are often kept in gardens as pets. 
