55 
L A C E R T A. 
found in thefe two other fpecies ; inftead of which, the 
fkin on that place, covered only by fmall fcales, forms 
one or two tranfverfe wrinkles or folds. This differential 
character has been very happily applied by Linnaeus 5 but 
Cepede has added feveral others, from an infpedion of 
individuals preferved in the imperial cabinet at Paris. 
The head is more lengthened and more flattened at the 
tides; its upper part is narrower; and the muzzle more 
pointed, than in thefe tv/o other fpecies. The tail is ge¬ 
nerally longer in proportion to the body. The ameiva 
grows in general to a fize nearly equal to that of our green 
lizard. The individual from which Cepede defcribed the 
fpecies, and which was lent from Cayenne by M. Leche- 
vin, was twenty-one inches long from the tip of the muz¬ 
zle to the tip of the tail; and of this the tail meafured 
twe.'ve inches and a half: the circumference of the body, 
where thickeft, was four inches and three quarters. The 
mouth opens as far as behind the eyes ; and the jaws, 
which are covered by a double row of large fcales, are 
armed with a great number of very fmall teeth, which 
referable fomewhat thofe of the guana, the fmalleft being 
towards the muzzle. The top of the head is covered 
with large fcales, as in the green and nimble lizards. The 
upper part of the body and of the legs is covered with 
fcales of fo fmall a fize, as to be hardly fenfible ; but thofe 
which cover the under part of the body are large, fquare, 
and ranged in tranfverfe rows or bands. The tail is fur- 
rounded with rings of fcales, of a long four-fided figure. 
The infides of the thighs have each a row of tubercles. 
The toes are long, leparated from each other, and armed 
with tolerably-ftrong claws. It has been already men¬ 
tioned, that the colour of this fpecies varies confiderably, 
according to age and fex, to peculiarities in the climates 
cf the different countries in which it is found, and to the 
temperature of the atmofphere and feafon of the year in 
the fame countries; in general, however, it feems that 
the ground or prevailing colour is green or greyilh, lefs or 
more diverfified with fpots, blotches, or ftreaks, of'more 
lively colours ; and thefe are fometimes fo difpofed as to 
form round fpots, or eyes; from which circumflance both 
this and the green fpecies have fometimes been called the 
Argus lizard. Perhaps, like the lizards of our country, 
the ameiva may form a family, in which the grey and the 
green individuals ought to be confidered as permanent va¬ 
rieties : but it would require more accurate and more ex¬ 
tended obfervations than have yet been communicated, to 
enable naturalifts to decide precifely on this queftion. 
The ameiva is not confined to America, but is likewife 
found in the Old World ; a fpecimen was brought from 
India by M. le Cor, the colour of w hich was a very beau¬ 
tiful green, mixed in different places with yellow. Gro- 
novius has defcribed, under the name of anolis , a lizard 
of Surinam, evidently of the fame fpecies with ameiva of 
Cayenne. 
| 3 . The Surinam ameiva. In this variety, a broad dark 
band, ornamented with a light hem or fringe marked with 
white fpecks, extends along each fide of the back. The 
back itfelf is of a lighter blue, and covered with fmall 
white fcales variegated with black fpots. The forehead, 
which is of a pale blue, is covered with remarkable large 
fcales, as are the ventral and the fore feet. The tail is 
ornamented with narrow belts and black fpots. Seba, t. 
88. f. 1. 
Seba alfo mentions a larger Surinam lizard, which, ac¬ 
cording to Jonfton, is called ameiva by the inhabitants of 
the Brafils, from its elegance and beauty. The forehead 
in particular difplays white, black, and red, fcales upon 
a white ground, intermixed with fmall tubercles. All 
the reft of the body is blue, variegated like marble, with 
black and white intermixed here and there with fmall red 
fpots. The legs are ornamented in like manner. The 
feet yellow, with ftrong black nails. The tail iong, belted 
to the end with black and red. Seba, t. 88. f. 2.° 
49. Lacerta tiliguerta, the tiliguerta lizard : tail verti- 
cillate, twice the length of the body, abdominal feuta 
eighty. This, which is a fmall fpecies, meafuring between 
feven and eight inches in length, is allied to the green li¬ 
zard, and is a native of the illand of Sardinia, where it is 
faid to be found in fields, about walls, See. The male is 
green, fpotted with black; the female brown. 
50. Lacerta agilis, the nimble lizard. Specific character, 
a longifh round tail, furrounded by rings of fharp fcales ; 
and having a kind of collar underneath the neck, cora- 
pofed of fcales. - 
This elegant fmall fpecies, which is known, as the play¬ 
thing of youth, to almoft every perfon in the temperate 
regions of Europe, feems to be the moft gentle and inof- 
fentive, and at the fame time the moft uleful, of all the 
lizard tribe. Though its colours are not fo brilliant as 
thofe of feveral other oviparous quadrupeds, its covering 
is however very elegant, and its appearance very engaging. 
It is fond of balking in the fun ; yet, unable to bear ex- 
cefiive heat, it feeks Ihelter in the hotteft weather. In 
fpring, during fine weather, it is often feen extended on a 
floping green bank, or on a wall expofed to the fun, which, 
by refledfting its rays, augments the natural warmth of the 
feafon. In this fituation, it enjoys the full eftebts of the 
reviving heat; exprefiing its delight by gently agitating 
its (lender tail; and its lively eyes are animated with plea- 
fure. Should any of the minute animals appear on which 
it feeds, it fprings upon them with the quicknefs of 
thought; and, if any danger occur, it feeks a more fecure 
retreat with equal rapidity. Far from flying the approach 
of man, it feems to eye him with fatisfabtion ; but on the 
fmalleft noife, even the falling of a Angle leaf, it turns fud- 
denly round, falls down, and feems for fome inftants per- 
fedtly ftupefied by its fall; or, it fuddenly (hoots away 
and difappears, returns again, feems agitated, conceals it¬ 
felf again, returns, dtffcribes feveral circuitous contortions 
fo rapidly as hardly to be followed by the cleared; eye, and 
finally retires into its concealment until its terror is re¬ 
moved. This wonderful agility and rapidity of motion 
is chiefly to be feen in the warm countries; for in more 
temperate regions its evolutions are greatly more languid. 
The head of this fpecies is triangular, and flattened on 
the top ; its upper part being covered by large fcales, of 
which two are placed in fuch a manner over the eyes as 
to referable (hut eyelids. Its muzzle is fmall, elegant, 
and of a rounded form. The openings of the ears are to¬ 
lerably large. The two jaws are of equal fize and length, 
and are covered on the outfide by large fcales, being armed 
with very fmall hooked teeth, having their points turned 
inwards. The feet have five (lender toes on each, fur- 
niflied with hooked claws, which aflift it in climbing trees, 
and in running nimbly along the furface of walls ; and, 
having the hind legs fomewhat longer than the fore, as in 
moft lizards, it is thereby greatly aflifted in the agility of 
its motions, even in running up walls and trees. There 
is a fmall fixing or row of tubercles along the infide of 
each hind thigh, (Imilar to what has been already remark¬ 
ed in the guana and feveral other fpecies. The whole 
figure and appearance of this fmall lizard is delicate and 
agreeable. The giey colour, which for the moft part 
adorns its upper parts, is variegated by a great number of 
whitilh blotches, and by three longitudinal ftripes along 
the back, almoft completely black, that in the middle be¬ 
ing narrower than the reft. The belly is green, changing 
with blue. There is no part of its external fcaly cover¬ 
ing but exhibits an agreeable appearance of mild but 
changing refleftions of coloured light; and, to give ad¬ 
ditional beauty to this elegant fimplicity of its natural 
drefs, the under part of the neck is adorned with a dou¬ 
ble collar, ufually compofed of feven fcales, fomewhat 
larger than thofe on the reft of the body, particularly than 
thofe immediately contiguous ; and thefe have the colour 
and brilliancy of burnilhed gold. In other refpefts, as in 
almoft all lizards, the diftribution and (hades of colours 
in this fpecies are fubjebt to confiderable variation, ac¬ 
cording to differences in age, fex, and climate; but, fo 
far as can be judged of, by the infpebHon of many living . 
fpecimens, the general colour is always fuch as has been 
above defcribed. The belly is covered by fcales of confi- 
derabiy 
