316 CHANNEL ISLAM) LIZARDS. 



remember seeing it tlicre in myriads fifty years ago, and call 

 to mind how, although at that time 1 ^^'as a very small boy, I 

 was struck by the remarka})]e resemblance of the creature 

 to its surrovmdmgs. If one of them in full view only kept 

 perfectly still as it basked in the sun on the lichen-covered 

 disintegrating rock, it could easily esca])e detection. I think 

 it Avas this little lizard that prepared in me the ground for the 

 full reception and appreciation of the Origin of Species^ when 

 that great work appeared. 



Years passed on, and to Bouley Bay I always went to see 

 Lacerta muralis. They used to SAvarm on the low wall that 

 leads to the disused jetty, and on the little dismantled fort 

 above. They ran between the grey and yellow lichens on 

 every projecting boidder, and played amongst the bracken 

 and heather and the rhyolite rocks that skirt the coast. There 

 in the quiet seclusion of this steep and unfrequented bay, the 

 Wall Lizard reigned supreme and unmolested. 



In recent years, however, I have regretfully noted its 

 growing scarcity ; as time went on I observed they were 

 becoming fewer and still fewer ; but it is only this year that I 

 have discovered the cause. The destroyer is man^ but in this 

 case acting through an intermediary : the domestic cat. 



A month or two ago I visited this locality in company 

 with two scientific friends from Yorkshire, and as we hunted 

 in vain over the once so densely populated ground, hoping to 

 catch sight of a specimen, we started from the bracken first 

 one and then another sleek and well-fed cat. There can 

 be little doubt therefore that these animals, living and 

 breeding in a semi-Avild state among the cliffs are gradually 

 exterminating the beautiful little lizard that ^^as formerly 

 such a charming feature in that part of Jersey. 



During the afternoon in the course of oiu^ ramble we 

 called in at the little cottage in the bay to have tea, and here 

 again we saw several cats. I enquired of the landlady how 

 many she had. She appeared amused at the question, and 

 said she had not the slightest idea. " Mais," she added, " ils 

 ne content pas beaucoup ; ils se nourissent d'oiseaux et de 

 lezards." (But they do not cost much, they feed on birds 

 and lizards.) I asked Avhether the cats killed many lizards. 

 " Oh, mais oui, ils en croquent," (Oh, yes indeed^ they do 

 crunch some.) Now, I confess that I am naturally very fond 

 of pussy, and can never resist the impulse to stroke and caress 

 every one I can reach ; but I must also own that after 

 receiving this information I would not be profoundly sorry to 

 hear that a murrain had fallen on the cats of Bouley Bay. 



