26 SCALY LIZARD. Class III. 



brown ; beneath that a broad black one ; those 

 ended a little beyond the hind-legs. The belly 

 was yellow, and the scales large but even; 

 those on the back small ; on the tail the ends 

 projected, and were varied with black and 

 brown. The legs and feet were dusky; on 

 each foot were five toes, furnished with claws. 



This species is extremely nimble: in hot 

 weather it basks on the sides of dry banks, or 

 of old trees ; but on being observed immedi- 

 ately retreats to its hole. Its food, like that of 

 all the other English lizards, is insects ; itself, 

 of birds of prey. Each of our lizards are per- 

 fectly harmless ; yet their form is what strikes 

 us with disgust, and has occasioned great ob- 

 scurity in their history. 

 Other Related to this species is the Guernsey lizard, 



which we are informed has been propagated in 

 England from some originally brought from that 

 island. We have also heard of a green lizard 

 frequent near Farnham, which probably may 

 be of that kind : but the most uncommon spe- 

 cies we ever met with any account of, is that 

 which was killed near IVoscot, in the parish of 

 Swinford, Worcestershire, in 1741, w r hich was 

 two feet six inches long, and four inches in 

 girth. The fore-legs were placed eight inches 

 from the head ; the hind-legs five inches beyond 



Species. 



