GEET LIZAED. 109 



are common — tlie Zooiica vivipara and tte Lacerta agilis. The 

 former, as its name imports, is viviparous, whereas the other 

 genera belonging to the family are (so far as known) oviparous. 

 Others occur in the south of Europe.] 



The common Grey or Sand Lizard [L. agilis), sometimes attains 

 the length of from eight to ten inches, of which the tail occupies more 

 than half. These little inoffensive creatures, so common in Southern 

 Europe, are slender and active ; their movements are so rapid that 

 they escape the eye as quickly as a bird. They require a mild tem- 

 perature, and seek shelter among ruins. When the sun strikes 

 with its meridian force upon a wall, they may be seen basking in 

 its rays, enjoying themselves delightedly upon the heated surface. 

 They seem to be pervaded with the blessed warmth, and mark 

 their pleasure by soft undidations of the tail. It is commonly 

 said that the Lizard is the friend of Man, since far from flying at 

 his approach, they seem to regard his appearance with great 

 complacency. They pass the winter at the bottom of small holes 

 which they have hollowed out of the earth, where they become 

 torpid. At the commencement of spring they issue from their 

 hiding-place, and each seeks its mate ; they go in pairs, male 

 and female, it is said, living in faithful union for many years, 

 sharing between them the domestic arrangements, which com- 

 prise hatching the young and nursing them in their helplessness, 

 carrying them into warm and sunny places, and sheltering them 

 from cold and damp. 



Lizards feed chiefly upon insects, and especially flies. All who 

 have watched the actions of the Grey Lizards must have observed 

 that the caudal vertebrae are so extremely fragile that they separate 

 on the slightest touch, the tail remaining in the hand of any 

 one attempting to seize it. These tails sometimes grow again. 

 When an attempt is made to seize a Grey Lizard on the wall 

 it lets itself fall to the ground, and remains there a moment 

 immovable before attempting to run, evidently simulating death. 



Grey Lizards are easily tamed, and appear happy in captivitj^ 

 From their extreme gentleness they soon become familiar with 

 their keepers, and return caress for caress, approaching mouth to 

 mouth, and suck the saliva from between their lips with a grace 

 that few people would allow them to display. 



