ORDER SAURlA. 209 



this saurian is to be found. According to Ray and Linnaeus, 

 it also inhabits very northern countries, such as Sweden and 

 Kamschatka. In the latter country it inspires terror, and is 

 considered as an envoy of the infernal powers ; a fact which 

 Captain Cook ascertained during his residence in that remote 

 and barbarous region. 



We are assured that this reptile feeds not only on insects, 

 but that it also swallows frogs, mice, shrews, and other small 

 vertebrated animals. It seeks out worms, will swallow 

 saliva, and take the eggs of passerine birds. M. Poiriet found 

 in the stomach of a green lizard, which he dissected on the 

 coasts of the ancient Numidia, a small lizard, completely entire. 



According to M. de Lacepede this lizard is even known to 

 attack some serpents, but he seldom comes off victorious in 

 this sort of combat. He does not appear even much to 

 dread the presence of man, and will bite with great violence 

 and inveteracy the end of a stick with which any one may 

 choose to torment him. This lizard not only runs with swift- 

 ness, but also leaps remarkably high, and being bolder than 

 the grey lizard, he will defend himself against the dogs that 

 attack him, fastening on their muzzle, and preferring to 

 allow himself to be killed, than to let go his hold. 



It is perfectly erroneous to regard the bite of the green 

 lizard as venomous and mortal. On this subject, Laurenti 

 has made a number of experiments perfectly conclusive and 

 satisfactory. 



If Gesner is to be believed, the Africans eat the flesh of 

 those green lizards, which the majority of naturalists have 

 regarded as a variety of the lacerta agilis of Linnaeus. 

 M.M. de Lacepede and Latreille were the first to distinguish 

 them specifically. 



The spotted green limard (Lacerta viridisy Daudin) is also 

 to be found in all the temperate climates of Europe. It 

 frequents woods of little elevation, and exposed to the sun. 



VOL. IX. V 



