l8o THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
be handled as freely as the majority of the members of its tribe; when biting, moreover, 
it has a tendency to fasten itself upon the object seized with bulldog-like tenacity, a grip 
from a powerful-jawed old male being a somewhat unpleasant experience. In addition to 
insects the ocellated lizard will prey upon any other small animals it cain overpower, including 
the members of its own species ; it is consequently not safe to entrust it in the company of 
other lizards of less size and strength. 
The Skink Family, which next invites attention, contains no less than 400 known species, 
and, climatic conditions being favourable, enjoys an almost cosmopolitan distribution. The 
majority of its members have stoutish cylindrical bodies, with relatively short limbs and tail ; 
the legs are sometimes reduced to two only, or altogether aborted, giving the animal a snake- 
like form. 
The Common or “ Medicinal ” Skink — so called since it was regarded in the Middle Ages 
as an infallible medicinal nostrum — is an inhabitant of North Africa, and notable for its 
adaptation to a sand-burrowing existence. The body is short, cylindrical, exceedingly smooth 
through the close apposition of the minute surface-scales, and sharply conical at each e.xtremity. 
The well-developed toes of all four feet are flattened and serrated at their edges in such 
a manner that they constitute most effective burrowing-tools in the loose sand these lizards 
frequent. The length of this skink rarely e.xceeds 3 or 4 inches. Its colour is rather 
exceptional for a lizard, but at the same time in keep- 
ing with its predominating subterranean habits. The 
ground-tint in the living examples in the writer’s posses- 
sion, one of which is photographed on page 579, was a 
light yellowish-white, like that of old polished ivory, 
with here and there a pale flesh-pink tinge. On the 
under-surface this light tint was persistent, while the 
back w'as traversed by some twelve broadish bands of 
pale slate-grey. The skink does not, like the mole and 
the Amphisbaenas, obtain its food from subterranean 
sources. It comes out to bask on the surface 
of the sand when the sun is at its height, 
and keeps a brisk look-out for flies or 
other insects, which, if they approach suffi- 
ciently near, are pounced upon with remark- 
able agility. Should the sky become overcast 
or any cause for alarm manifest itself, the 
skink disappears beneath the sand as though 
by magic, not infrequently burrowing down to 
a depth of several feet. Even at the present 
day the skink is esteemed by the Arabs both 
for medicine and food, and in the latter associa- 
tion. Well broiled, has won the commendation 
of European palates. 
One of the most bizarre members of the 
Skink Family hails from Australia, where it 
is known as the Stump-tailed Lizard. The 
most remarkable feature in this form is the 
shortness and roundness of the caudal appen- 
dage, the contour and proportions of which, 
in fact, so nearly correspond with those of the 
head that it was originally described by its 
discoverer, Captain William Dampier, just over 
three centuries ago, as a double-headed animal. 
Phou by IV, SavilU-^Kenty F.Z.S. 
RONTGEN RAY PHOTOGRAPH OF 
OCELLATED. LIZARD 
Tie remarkable length and slenderness of the bones of the hind feet are 
•well tllustrated by this photograph 
