LACERTA VIRIDIS. 185 



rather less than its width; the fore-feet extend to the 

 nostrils, the hind-feet to the commencement of the fore- 

 feet, or to within a short distance of that point in some 

 specimens ; the tail comprises about two-thirds of the length 

 of the body ; there are about twelve small conical teeth on 

 either side of the palate ; the scales on the upper part of 

 the neck and beginning of the back are oval and tectiform, 

 becoming by degrees more hexagonal as they advance to- 

 wards the tail; the scales on the sides are oval, with a 

 slight longitudinal elevation along their centres, except- 

 ing in the three or four rows next to the ventral plates, 

 which are quite flat ; in a line drawn over the centre of 

 the back from one edge of the ventral region to the other, 

 fifty scales may be counted; these are decidedly smaller 

 than in L. stirpium ; the ventral plates are in eight rows, 

 the outer ones being short and composed of small plates ; 

 of the six complete rows the two central are the narrowest ; 

 the femoral pores are from twelve to twenty in number 

 on each thigh. The colouring of the Green Lizard is 

 very various, the colour of the upper surface of the body 

 being sometimes of a uniform green, sometimes green with 

 yellow spots, or brown with green or white markings ; 

 sometimes brown, with from two to five longitudinal white 

 streaks edged with black; the lower parts are generally 

 yellow. 



The entire length, in the greater part of the countries in 

 which it is found, seldom exceeds 15 inches ; but in the 

 Morea individuals occur measuring 18 inches. 



Frequents hedges, bushes, and grassy places, and is 

 found in the Alps to the height of 10,000 feet above the 

 sea. 



The Green Lizard inhabits the greater part of Central 

 and Southern Europe, including Prance as far North as 

 Paris. It is very common in the South of that country, all 



