92 
NATURAL HISTORY 
LIZARD. 
It is no easy matter to tell to what class 
in nature Lizards are chiefly allied. They 
are unjustly raised to the rank of beasts, as 
they bring forth eggs,' dispense with breath- 
ing, and are not covered with hair. They 
cannot be placed among fishes, as the ma- 
jority of them live upon land. They are 
excluded from the serpent tribe, by their 
feet, upon which they run with some celerity; 
and from the insects, by their size; tor 
though many might bo classed in this order, 
a crocodile would be a terrible insect indeed. 
The colour of these animals is very various, 
as they are found of a hundred different 
hues, green, blue, red, chestnut, yellow, 
spotted, streaked, and marble. 
