178 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
retrograde forms in which the hinder 
limbs are entirely absent or the front 
ones reduced to mere stumps. These 
exceptional instances pave the way to 
the family of the Amphisbzenas, in 
which such or a still lower phase 
of limb development represents the 
normal condition. The Amphisbzenas 
are remarkable for their worm-like re- 
semblance, and for the circumstances 
that they live like earth-worms in bur- 
rows, that their eyes are functionless 
(being concealed beneath the skin), 
and that they are without ears. Other 
details of structure indicate a most 
rudimentary condition of develop- 
ment, and they consequently rank as 
the lowest group in the Lizard series. 
Another peculiarity of the Amphisbaenas is that, in place of scales, the skin of the body is 
divided into square segments, which form symmetrical rings like those of worms. In addition 
to this, these retrograde lizards possess the worm-like faculty of being able to move backwards 
and forwards in their burrows with equal facility. It is from this peculiar property that their 
title of Amphisbzna, signifying ‘‘ moving both ways,” is derived. The representatives of this 
family, including between sixty and seventy species, are widely distributed, being found in 
America, the West Indies, Africa, and also European countries that border the Mediterranean 
While the Teguexins present resemblances in one direction with the Amphisbenas, or 
Worm-like Lizards, the higher or Monitor-like forms have much in common with the Typical 
or True Lizards, of which two small but well-known species —the SAND- and VIVIPAROUS 
LizARD — are indigenous to the British Isles. All the members of the True Lizards, num- 
bering some hundred species, are inhabitants of the Old World, becoming scarce, however, 
towards the far east of the Asiatic Continent. All possess shapely bodies and well-developed 
limbs with five-toed feet, and are remarkable for the extreme activity of their movements, 
and in many cases brilliant colouring. 
The varying individual shades of 
the GREEN Lizarp’s brilliant emerald 
body are almost infinite, no two being 
quite precisely alike in this respect. 
In some a yellower, in others a bluer 
green predominates, while the females 
and young are more or less mottled 
or striped with brown. The under 
surface of the body is usually a more 
or less bright yellow, and the throat, 
in the males more particularly, at the 
breeding-season is frequently brilliant 
blue. The more conspicuous colour 
differences exhibited by this lizard 
are, however, intimately associated ui 
with the local habitat of the particular Pion. by Gelatin BRL tR 
race. Those indigenous to Spain and 
Portugal, for example, are more or 
less ornamented with ocellated spots This and other allied species appear to be dead as they lie basking in the sun 
Photo by W. Dundas FZ. s. 
ARIZONA HELODERM (POISONOUS LIZARD) 
In the warted texture of its skin-surface the heloderm differs conspicuously from other 
lizards 
WHITE MONITOR 
