TRUE LIZARDS. 
163 
waii-Lizard The re P resen ^ a ^ ve °f the typical genus that we shall notice 
is the beautiful wall-lizard (X. muralis), of which a group is depicted 
in our coloured Plate. This southern species, which inhabits the countries 
bordering both sides of the Mediterranean, and extends eastwards into Persia, 
belongs to a group in which the edge of the collar on the neck is even or but 
slightly serrated, and the scales of the back are granular. Attaining in Germany 
a length of from 7 to inches, but reaching from 8 to 9^- inches in Italy, this 
species has a series of granules between the shields above the eyes, while the scales 
of the abdomen are arranged in six (rarely eight) rows, and those on the upper 
surface of the leg are larger than those on the back; and there is but a single 
viviparous lizard (nat. size.) 
(postnasal) scale behind each nostril. In colour the wall-lizard presents such an 
astonishing variation, that it is almost impossible to give any general description. 
In German examples the ground-colour of the back is, however, often brown or 
grey, with bronze-green reflections in sunlight, upon which are blackish streaks, 
marblings, and spots; while the flanks have a row of blue spots; and the under¬ 
parts vary from milk-white to copper-red, frequently variegated by spots or 
marblings. In Southern Europe these lizards may be seen basking on almost every 
wall, old building, or face of rock, where they delight all beholders with their 
activity and tameness. “ Scarcely two,” writes Leith-Adams, “ are marked alike ; 
the brightness and variety of their hues are most beautiful and attractive, and, like 
the chamseleon, they change colour with the coruscations of sunshine, but, of 
