PROSPECTING, AND WHAT I FOUND 

 IN MY DIGGING. 



" All that glisters is not gold." 



— Merchant of Venice. 



One day last summer I was digging in the grove outside 

 my garden for some fine black mould with which to pot 

 some geraniums. While poking about with my spade 

 at the roots of a decayed old stump, and stirring the 

 surface of the loose earth and leaves, a glittering object 

 caught my eye. 



It was so bright that I really began to fancy that I 

 had hit upon a treasure, perhaps a nugget, but when I 

 continued to prospect for my gold, to my surprise it 

 began to move, and presently a jet black creature, with 

 coat like grained leather, decked with bright golden 

 stars, came slowly struggling into view. 



It was evidently of the lizard family, but unlike any 

 specimen I had ever before met with. It was not a true 

 lizard, as I found out later. 



