108 SAUEIANS. 



species of whicli have been figured by Sir Andrew Smith. They 

 are mostly of shortish form, and the neck is more or less spinous ; 

 the body-scales in some (as Zonurus cataphractus) being extra- 

 ordinarily rugous. These Lizards squeeze themselves into crevices 

 in the rocks, in which they hold on so firmly by their nuchal 

 spines that it is next to impossible to dislodge them, the tail com- 

 monly giving way at once if it be attempted to pull them forth by 

 means of it. 



The family of Lacertidm, comprising our ordinary European 

 Lizards, have no longitudinal fold along the sides, but generally 

 one across the throat; the tail is very long, rounded, with its 

 scales arranged in rings, being also fragile ; the head is covered 

 with shields, which are symmetrically arranged ; scales on the 

 back granular or rhombic ; on the sides granular ; on the belly 

 largely quadrangular or rounded, and arranged in cross-bands ; 

 eyes diurnal, with eyelids ; the tympanum distinct ; limbs always 

 four, and well developed. This group of Lizards has no repre- 

 sentative in America or (so far as known) in Australia. 



The sub-family of Tachydrominm is included by Dr. Gray in the 

 family Zonuridce. These are Asiatic Lizards, with a most in- 

 ordinate length of tail, the fore and hind limbs being not placed 

 distantly apart, as in the various anguiform Lizards already 

 treated of — there is an indistinct collar, and the toes are not ser- 

 rated or keeled. Two genera have been distinguished, Tachy- 

 dromics and Tachysaurus, the latter founded on a Japanese Lizard, 

 T.japonicus. At least three species are known of Tachydromus, 

 two of which inhabit China, T. septentrionalis and T. meridionalis; 

 the third belonging to the Indo-Chinese countries, T. sex-lineatus. 

 In an example of the last, measuring fourteen inches long, the 

 tail occupies eleven inches and a half. It is the longest-tailed 

 creature that we have any knowledge of, in proportion to its 

 other parts ; indeed, something quite wonderful to behold and muse 

 over. 



The rest of the Laeertidm are chiefly from Africa and the south 

 of Europe ; there are probably more of them to be discovered in 

 Middle Asia, and only three or four species are known to inhabit 

 the Indian region. Fifteen or more genera are recognised. In 

 temperate Europe (inclusive of the British Islands) two species 



