2 86 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



which is further divided into some few famihes, as we may well 

 suppose when we learn that the snake-like blind-worm and its 

 allies are placed among the Lizards proper and not among the 

 Snakes. The presence or absence of legs must not be taken as 

 showing what is and what is not a lizard. While most " lizards " 

 have well-defined legs and feet, some have only two, and these 

 often so small as to be of little use, while others have none at all, 

 and so at first sight might be taken for snakes. 



It is this gradation of four-footed lizards into snakes that has 

 probably more than anything else decided naturalists to associate 

 this wide range of reptiles into the one order of the Squamata 

 or Lizard group. All the lizards of to-day are comparatively 

 small; for their larger representatives we have to look back to 

 former ages in the world's history. 



LIZARDS 



Lizards are to be found in almost all parts of the world, but 

 are most plentiful in the warm countries. Only two species are 

 found in Britain, viz.: the sand-lizard and the viviparous lizard. 

 The former is greenish, and the latter brownish, both being very 

 prettily marked with dark spots. The one frequents sandy heaths, 

 while the other prefers a bank near water, in which it may some- 

 times be seen swimming. 



Like all reptiles, the lizard is protected by scales. Its head 

 and body are flat and narrow, and its tail is very long, sometimes 

 twice as long as the rest of the body. The tongue of the lizard 

 is peculiar. One might almost think that the animal had two 

 tongues ; but it has only one, which is slit at the point, and also 

 on each side a little farther back. 



The young are produced from eggs, which are generally left 

 to be hatched by the heat of the sun. But one species, the 

 viviparous lizard, produces its young alive. These are able to 

 run about as soon as they are born, but the parents take care 

 of them till they have gained some experience. 



