212 CLASS REPTILIA. 



the muzzle obtuse; the jaws armed with small and fine 

 teeth, a little crooked, and turned towards the gullet. The 

 neck is almost as thick as the body, and, like the latter, 

 flatted on its four sides. The tail is cylindrical, prolonged 

 into a point, and a little longer than the rest of the animal. 

 The scales of the upper part, and the flanks, are very small, 

 hexagonal, and not imbricated. There are seventeen porous 

 tubercles under each thigh. The claws are recurved, and 

 there are six ranks of plates under the belly. It is from five 

 to six inches in length. 



This species, called the grey lizard of the walls, is the most 

 common saurian reptile in France, and in all the temperate cli- 

 mates of Europe. It inhabits sandy places and the walls of 

 gardens, on which it climbs with a surprising degree of agility. 

 It is also found in part of Asia and Africa. It lives on flies, 

 ants, and other insects. 



The vivacity of its motions, the grace of its rapid gait, its 

 agreeable and slender form., cause it to be very generally 

 remarked. It is susceptible of being tamed, and many per- 

 sons consider it as peculiarly the friend of man. 



It is so common in the environs of Vienna in Austria, that 

 Laurenti declares that it might serve during the entire sum- 

 mer for the support of a great number of poor persons. Its 

 flesh, wholesome, and productive of appetite, according to 

 this observer, might be baked or fried, like that of small 

 fishes. 



Formerly, the properties of this same flesh were highly 

 vaunted as a remedy against cutaneous and lymphatic com- 

 plaints, against cancers, syphilis, &c. But its use is alto- 

 gether abandoned at present for any medical purposes. 



This animal passes the winter in a state of lethargy, at the 

 bottom of its retreat, and begins to couple in the first fine 

 days of spring. It is monogamous, and the individuals live 

 only in pairs. The male and female remain in a perfect 



