102 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



(inclusive of the British Islands) two species are common — the 

 Zootica vivipara and the 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 (Z. 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 

 temperature, 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 upon the heated surface. 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 pleasure.* They 

 pass the winter at the bottom of small holes which they have hollowed 

 out of the earth, in which they become torpid. At the commencement 

 of spring they issue from their hiding-place and seek a mate; they go 

 in pairs, it is said, for many years, sharing between them the domestic 

 arrangements, which comprise hatching the young and nursing them 

 in their helplessness, carrying them to 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 for a moment immovable before attempting to run, 

 evidently simulating death. 



Grey Lizards are easily tamed, and appear happy in captivity. 

 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 master's lips with a grace that 

 few people would allow them to display. 



In the Green Lizard (Z. viridis, Fig. 26), the scales of the temple 

 are many-sided and unequal, with a central layer ; back granular and 

 oblong, with shelving sides ; throat fold distinct. Nothing can be 

 more brilliant than the variegated colouring with which it is orna- 



* Very doubtful — our experience of them in the wild state having been quite 

 the reverse. — Ed. 



