286 LONG-TAILED SCINK. 



the back, with a pale lateral line, and is commonly 

 quoted as the Lacerta ajirata of Linnaeus, which 

 that author describes as being of a beautiful gilded 

 hue, while living, which is lost in the dead speci- 

 men. It is probably most remarkable in the young 

 or half-grown animals, specimens sometimes occur- 

 ring, of a small size, in which the gilded tinge of 

 the scales, and brown lateral stripe, are very con- 

 spicuous. 



LONG-TAILED SCINK. 



Lacerta longicauda. L. olivacea-flavescens, cauda longissima. 



Olivaceous-yellow Lizard, with extremely long tail. 



Scincus marinus Americanus longa cauda. Seb, 2. p. 11. t. 10. 



This is considered by Dr. Gmelin as a variety 

 of the common Scink ; yet it differs so much from 

 that animal, by its great length of tail, that it 

 is in all probability a very distinct species. It is, 

 according to Seba, a native of America, and is 

 said to frequent the sea coasts, and to feed on 

 small crabs and spiders. Its colour is a greenish 

 yellow, deeper or lighter in different individuals. 



