CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 3. SAURIA. 
land, and even in Ireland, an evidence that St. Patrick, who has the credit of having destroyed 
the reptiles in the favored Emerald Isle, must have confined his operations to the venomous 
species. 
The OoELLATED LizARD, L. occllata, is a very beautiful species, a foot in length, of a fine 
green color, reticulated and spotted with black, and adorned with blue spots on the side of the 
body. It is abundant in Italy, Spain, the south of JFrance, and Africa. 
THE AMEIYIDJE. 
These, which are American animals, seem to take the place of the Lacertidae upon this conti- 
nent. They resemble them in their general characteristics, but differ in having solid teeth, firmly 
attached to the jaws. They live on the ground in woods and hedges, and feed principally upon 
insects, though they sometimes devour small vertebrate animals. 
Genus TEITJS : Teius. — This includes the Teguexin or Variegated Lizard, found in Brazil 
and Guiana. It sometimes measures 
six feet in length, and is very voracious, 
preying upon mice, frogs, and other 
small animals; it is said occasionally to 
visit the poultry-yards, and to feed on 
the chickens and eggs. Its flesh is 
white, and not unhke that of a fowl in 
flavor. AVhen pursued it does not allow 
itself to be taken without a struggle ; 
it runs with great swiftness, and strikes 
such violent blows at the dogs with its 
THE vAEiEGATED LizAED. tall, that thcy do uot readily venture to 
attack it. When brought to bay, it 
fights boldly, and inflicts severe bites upon any thing that comes within its reach. It is fond 
of honey, and attacks the bee-hives with blows of its tail, each time, after having given a 
stroke, running away to escape the stings. In this way it wearies out the bees, who finally quit 
their home and leave the honey to their enemj , 
Genus AMEIVA : Ameiva. — These are elegant and inoff"ensive little lizards, abounding in the 
West Indies ; one species is found in the United States, from Carolina to Florida : this is the 
Six -lined Lizard, A., sexlineata, dark brown above, with six yellow longitudinal lines | length 
twelve inches. A species called A. tessellata is said to be found in Arkansas. 
THE YAEAlS'n)^. 
These, which are called the Broad-backed Lizards, and derive their name from the genus Varanus, 
comprise the largest species of known lizards ; they resemble the preceding families in the form 
of their bodies, and in the constant development of the limbs, but difi'er from them in having 
the head and belly covered with scales resembling those of the rest of the body, instead of the 
shield-hke plates which form the clothing of those parts in the Lacertidse and Ameividfe. The 
head is elongated, and the tongue, which is very long and distinctly bifid, like that of a snake, 
is received at the base in a membraneous sheath. The tail is very long, usually compressed and 
keeled, and the feet large, and furnished with long toes teraiinated by strong claws. They run 
swiftly, with a serpentine motion ; and feed on locusts, crickets, and beetles, and some of the 
larger species on the eggs of birds and crocodiles, chameleons, fish, and tortoises. 
Ge7iics MONITOR : Monitor, includes several species. The Egyptian Monitor, M. JSTilotims, 
attains the length of five or six feet ; it lives in the neighborhood of water, and is said to devour 
the eggs of crocodiles ; common in Egypt, where the people hold it to be a dwindled crocodile. 
It is figured on the ancient monuments. 
Genus HELODERMA : Heloderma. — To this belongs the Caltetepon, H. horridum, which 
is distinguished by furrowed fangs in the anterior portion of its jaws. It is aquatic in its habits. 
Vol. IL— 48. 
