CIIAXXEL ISLAXJ) LIZARDS. 309 



some of the adult females. It is true I have examined only 

 captive specimens of the foreign form, and I know full well 

 that these beautiful reptiles only show to advantage in a state 

 of nature ; but the details I have specified are not such 

 as would in any appreciable degree be affected by captivity. 



It is generally considered here that as regards coloration 

 the Green Lizard is subject to no end of variation ; and, as a 

 matter of fact, it is quite possible to handle a couple of dozen 

 specimens without finding two exactly alike. But I think I 

 am prepared to show that there are not more than three, or at 

 most four, actual varieties, the differences of age and sex 

 accounting for the apparently remarkable diversity. 



Dr.ring the last five or six years I have had exceptional 

 opportunities of studying the subjec^t, and I have been able 

 from week to Aveek and from year to year to observe the same 

 specimens in their natural habitats without disturbance. A 

 friend of mine, Mr. Dancaster, owns some rather extensive 

 grounds at St. Ouen's Bay, Jersey, and green lizards 

 are exceedingly plentiful there. Being entirely unmolested 

 they are very tame, and allow of close examination Avithout 

 being frightened. 



The adult male of what is certainly the type of Lacerta 

 viridis is coloiu'ed as follows : Plates covering the head 

 bottle-green at their edges, shading off to emerald-green 

 towards the centre, each plate having a circular, oval or 

 sometimes linear sj)ot of yelloAv, AAith occasionally a white 

 speck in the very centre. The back, as far as the base of the 

 tail, is adorned Avith a fine speckling of black and gold upon 

 an emerald green ground. The tail is marked with short 

 longitudinal close-set lines of black on a green ground, except 

 for the terminal inch or so of its length, Avhich is olive brown. 

 The limbs are either spotted, or more often transversely 

 barred, AA^ith black, on a green ground. The whole of the 

 underside, except the throat and lower jaw, is bright yellow. 

 The throat and loAver jaAv are blue, and in the breeding season 

 this colour is very brilliant. 



To understand the black and gold speckling of the back, 

 the structure of the scales must be noticed. From the neck to 

 the base of the tail these scales take the form of prominent 

 little nodules, in size and shape A^ery much like millet seeds. 

 These nodules are differently coloured, some jet black, like 

 glass beads, the others emerald green at the base, and golden 

 yelloAv at the top. The length of a full-grown male which has 

 suffered no injury (and injury to the tail is frequent) is about 

 thirteen inches. 



