36 



. THE ANIMALS OF NORTHERN AFRICA 



of a keel on its cylindrical tail. This reptile, which is the land-crocodile of 

 Herodotus, measures about one yard in length , and its food comprises jerboas, 

 birds, small reptiles, and locusts and other insects. The native jugglers carry 

 it about with them for use in their performances, 

 other Lizards Another lizard inhabiting northern Africa, and found in the 



and Geckos. Iberian Peninsula and southern France, is the pearly lizard (Lacerta 

 ocellata), which grows to more than a couple of feet in length and feeds on insects, 

 mice, small snakes, and lizards and frogs. Its Latin name is derived from the 

 black, eye-like spots with greenish yellow centres dotted over the brownish 



SPINY-TAILED LIZARD. 



grey or greyish green body. The skink (Scincus officinalis), formerly so much 

 used in medicine, is another North African lizard, in which the colour is greyish 

 yellow striped with lilac above, and uniformly dull green beneath. An inhabitant 

 of arid districts, when in danger it quickly burrows in the sand. Much larger than 

 the skink is the Arabian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastix spinipes), which subsists 

 exclusively on vegetable food and is confined to dry districts, where it also burrows 

 in the sand. It belongs to a different family (Agamidce) from the skink group, 

 and takes its name from the rings of spines encircling the segments of its long 

 tail. Lizards of the same genus range through Syria and Ai'abia to the desert 

 districts of northern India. Of quite a different type is the wall -gecko (Tarentola 



