176 SAURIA. 



crest or raised line along the back. They are for the most 

 part natives of America or Asia ; twelve species are given 

 by Dumeril and Bibron as inhabiting Africa, and one only 

 is European. 



Genus STELLIO. 



There are no teeth on the palate ; on each side of the 

 back is a fold of skin ; the femoral pores are wanting ; the 

 scales on the back are much larger than those on the 

 flanks ; the third and fourth toes of the front feet are equal ; 

 the tail is subcorneal, surrounded by rings of spiny scales ; 

 the head is flattened, triangular, and slightly bulged on the 



Stellio vulgaris. 



Stettio vulgaris, Dum. et Bib. vol. iv. p. 528 ; Schinz, Europ. Faun, 

 vol. ii. p. 30. 



Desceimion. — There is no crest on the back, or only feeble 

 traces of one near the shoulders ; thirty-two teeth in each 

 jaw ; the sides of the head, of the neck and body, are fur- 

 nished with spiny scales ; the tail, which is rather less than 

 two-thirds of the length of the animal, is perfectly conical 

 throughout, except at the root, where it is slightly flattened, 

 surrounded by large scales, arranged in rings, and bearing 

 spines ; the upper parts of the body are greenish yellow, 

 clouded with black ; many individuals have a black line 

 extending across the shoulders ; all the under parts are 

 olive ; tail spotted with black. 



The entire length is about 1 foot. 



It feeds on insects of various kinds, and frequents stony 

 places and old walls. 



Is very common in Greece, but has not been found in 

 any other part of Europe ; is extensively distributed through 

 the Levant, Egypt, Syria, &c. 



