CHAXXEL ISLAXn LIZAHD8. 31o 



and also to town extension and "improvements." West- 

 momit, about a mile from the town, was formerly a great 

 stronghold of Laccrta mridis^ but the place has been cleared of 

 its gorse, broom and heather, and laid out as an extension 

 of the adjacent park ; so that the lizard, together with the 

 glow-worm and some other objects that are dearer to the 

 nature-lover than ornamental shrubs and neatly-trimmed 

 banks, are no longer to be seen there. In some other parts of 

 the island, however, such as the west and south-west, they are 

 still as numerous as ever. 



To what age the Green Lizard lives is a point which I 

 do not think is known. The eggs, which are from ten to 

 fifteen in number, and about the size of Avrens' eggs, are 

 deposited in the early s})ring — the little ones are to be seen 

 running about in June, and the adult stage is reached when 

 they are three years old. In a mammal this would afford 

 some guide to the approximate period of longevity. But the 

 rule, such as it is, does not apply to reptiles. From the 

 observations I have made I conclude that the Green Lizard 

 enjoys a fairly long life, probably not less than a dozen years 

 01 so, but I should not like to venture an opinion as to its 

 limits. 



A few words now about the other Jersey lizard, Lacerto, 

 murulis. As I shall presently ex])lain, I have a sad, but I 

 sincerely trust a false, presentiment that I am writing the 

 obituary notice of this lovely little creature. 



2so lizard is subject to more variation in regard to 

 environment than this one. For instance, the beautifully 

 coloured plate in the Royal Natural History, which rei)resents, 

 I think, specimens from Germany, is as unlike the Channel 

 Lsland form as a Tomtit is unlike a Chaffinch. The colora- 

 tion of the Jersey Laccrta muralis is as follows : — 



Male : General ground colour a delicate silvery grey, 

 upon Avhich are close set spots of olive brown, each with a 

 sage-green bordering. (Jn the neck and limbs there is often a 

 little marbling and speckling of white. Underside ^esh 

 colour, the sides pink, and the throat and lower jaw bright red. 

 The female shows the same colours, but differently disposed, 

 so that the olive-broAvn is most in evidence. She also bears 

 whitish lines along the back and sides (corresponding Avith the 

 white lines of />. viridis)^ and the red on the throat is palei*. 

 The length of the adidt male is about eight inches, that of the 

 female about six. 



This lizard used to abound until recently at Bouley Bay 

 and at Rozel, but chiefly in the former locality. I quite well 



