Amphibia XIII. « VoL IV. No. s- 



VARIETIES OF THE LIZARD. 



Fig. l. The Stink 

 (Lacerto. StìncusJ) 



This fort of Lizard lives in molt parts of Africa 

 and Alia, and feeds on aromatic herbs. It is 

 from 6 to 8 inches long, is entirely cover'd with 

 fcales, its colour light and dark yellowish - red 

 xnix'd with white. The colours grow paler when 

 it dies. The head and tail are in a lirait line 

 with the reft of the body , fo that one might 

 take it at a little diflance for a little fish. It 

 lives as well in the water as on land. It was 

 tis'd in antient times as a corroborative for weak 

 bodies, and it is put to the fame ufe even at 

 prefent in the Eaft. Tt is taken dried as a pow- 

 der, or boild when fresh and drank in the form 

 of a decoction. On this account the common 

 Egyptians induftriously go öfter the Seine, col- 

 lect them and fell them at Cairo or Alexandria,, 

 whence they are further exported. 



The common Lizard. 

 (Lacerta agilis.J 



Fig. 2. The Male. Fig. 3„ The Female.. 



The common Lizard inhabits chiefly the fou- 

 thern parts of Europe, yet it is al'fo found in 

 many parts of Germany. The. addrefs and quick- 

 ness of its. motions render this elegant little 

 animal, which is by no means venomous , P ar ~ 



ticuîarîy agreeable i it is very fond of warmth,, 

 and hence it is chiefly found in fpring, when 

 it wakes at the fir ft appearance of vegetation 

 out of its winter- fleep, lying on turf banks and 

 dry places in the fun. But the moment they 

 perceive any one, they glide frighten'd into their 

 holes. Their food conßfts of flies and other 

 little infects, which they are very expert in cat- 

 ching. They are alfo prejudicial to the beehives. 

 The common Lizard is 6 inches long. Its head 

 is triangular and flat. Each foot it provided 

 with five toes, with crooked nails.. The back 

 of the male (Fig. 2.) in of a greyish brown, 

 ornamented with three rows of black and white 

 fpots. The back of the femal© (Fig* 3.) is red- 

 dish brown and the belly yellowish. 



Fig. 4* The Stellion. 



(Lacerta S telilo.) 



The Stellien lives in many parts of Afri- 

 ca, in Egypt and PaTaeftine and at the Cape. 

 It is 4 inches, long and is entirely cover'd with 

 little fpikes. It is of a marbled brown, white, 

 and greenish colour. The molt particular cir- 

 cumftance attending this little animal is, that 

 its excrements are collected in the neighbourhood 

 of the Egyptian Pyramids, they are falfely callM 

 crocodiles dung, and are an object of commerce, 

 as they are u&'d in Turkey as paint. 



