CHAPTER III 



LIZARDS 



THE Lizard Tribe or Sub-order is notable as containing 

 a greater number of specific forms than any other 

 of the Reptihan groups, no less than 1,700 distinct 

 species being described in the most recentl}' published 

 catalogues. While formerly regarded as constituting a 

 separate and independent order of the Reptile Class, later 

 investigations have demonstrated that lizards are so inti- 

 matel)' related through sundry intermediate types with the 

 Snakes that they cannot be recognised as constituting other 

 than a sub-section of the same order. The two groups of 

 the Lizards and Snakes are consequently, and with refer- 

 ence more particularl)' to their commonly 

 shared scaly armatures, technically distin- 

 guished by the appellation of Scaled Reptiles. 

 While the more t}'pical members of the 

 Lizard Tribe are readily distinguished from 

 the Snakes by the possession of well- 

 developed limbs, a no inconsiderable number 

 of species are altogether devoid of these 

 appendages, or possess them only in a 

 partially developed or rudimentary condition. 

 The British Blind-wok.m, or Slow-worm, 

 constitutes an example of such a legless 

 lizard, although on account of its outward 

 snake-like appearance it is commonly 

 regarded as a snake by the un- 

 educated. In the South Euro- 

 pean so-called Gl.ASS SiXAKE, or 

 SCMELTOPL'SIK, here figured, the 

 snake-like aspect and creeping 

 habits are still more conspicuous, 

 but \'et when examined more crit- 

 ically its lizard affinities become 

 ap])arent. One of the most readily 

 apprehended external characters 

 that ser\'e to distinguish this 

 and the majority of the legless 

 lizards from snakes is the posses- 

 sion b\' the former of mox'able 

 e\-elids and conspicuous external 

 ear-openings. Among snakes 

 eyelids are invariably absent, the 



56^ 



Fhcta by E. C. Jthnim 



BLIND-WORM 



Notzuuhitandini^ In namc^ ihc hhnd-jvor, 

 ieaes imall, I'cry bright little eyes 



Phcic b, 11: Savii:i-K,nt, F.Z.S. {Milfird-on-Sta 



GLASS-SNAKE, OR SCHELTOPUSIK 



The preience of moi\ihlc cyclidi Jiititigaiiliss tltis Icglesi ItzarJ Jrom 

 the true snakes 



bi U'. Savillr-K 



F Z.S.] 



GLASS-SNAKE 



[M,l;„ 



Snath constitute tho fa'vourite food of the glais-make 



