CHAP. XIX.] 



EEPTILES. 



391 



The Lacertidae, or Land Lizards, are small-sized, terrestrial, 

 non-burrowing lizards, very characteristic of the Palasarctic 

 region, which contains more than half the known species, and of 

 the adjacent parts of the Oriental and Ethiopian regions, but 

 extending also to South Africa, to Java, and even to Australia. 

 The best-defined genera are the following : — 



Lacerta (10 sp.), ranging over all Central and South Europe 

 to Poland, and farther north in Eussia and Siberia, eastward to 

 Persia, and southward to North and West Africa ; Zootoca (8 

 sp.), has nearly the same range in Europe as the last genus, 

 but has representatives in Madeira, South Africa, and Aus- 

 tralia ; Tachydromus (7 sp.) is widely scattered in Chinese 

 Asia, Japan, Borneo, and West Africa ; Acanthodactylus (10 sp.) 

 is most abundant in North Africa, but has a species in South 

 Africa, and two in Central India ; Eremias (18 sp.) is found all 

 over Africa, and also in the Crimea, Persia, Tartary and China ; 

 Psammodromus (2 sp.), is confined to Spain, Erance, and Italy ; 

 Ophiops (6 sp.), inhabits India, Persia, and Asia Minor to South 

 Eussia. Less strongly marked and perhaps less natural genera 

 are the following : — 



Thetia (1 sp.), Algiers ; Teira (1 sp.), Madeira ; Nucras (4 

 sp.), Caucasus and South Africa ; Notopholis (4 sp.), South 

 Europe and South Africa ; Algira (3 sp.), North and South Africa ; 

 Scrapteira (1 sp.), Nubia ; Asptdorhinus (1 sp.), Caspian district ; 

 Mcssalina (4 sp.), North Africa, Persia, and North-west India ; 

 CabritaQ. sp.), Central India; Pachyrhynchus (1 sp.), Benguela. 



Family 34.— ZONUEILVE. (15 Genera, 52 Species.) 



The Zonuridse, or Land Lizards, characterised by a longitudinal 

 fold of skin on each side of the body, have a very remarkable 

 Vol. II.— 26 



