are very characteristic Lizards chiefly of Southern Africa, several species of which have been figured by Sir Andrew Smith. They are mostly of shortish form, and the neck is more or less spinous; the body-scales in some (as _Zonurus cataphractus_) being extraordinarily rugous. These Lizards squeeze themselves into crevices in the rocks, in which they hold on so firmly by their nuchal spines that it is next to impossible to dislodge them, the tail commonly giving way at once if it be attempted to pull them forth by means of it. The family of _Lacertidæ_, comprising our ordinary European Lizards, have no longitudinal fold along the sides, but generally one across the throat; the tail is very long, rounded, with its scales arranged in rings, being also fragile; the head is covered with shields, which are symmetrically arranged; scales on the back granular or rhombic; on the sides granular; on the belly largely quadrangular or rounded, and arranged in cross-bands; eyes diurnal, with eyelids; the tympanum distinct; limbs always four, and well developed. This group of Lizards has no representative in America or (so far as known) in Australia. The sub-family of _Tachydrominæ_ is included by Dr. Gray in the family _Zonuridæ_. These are Asiatic Lizards, with a most inordinate length of tail, the fore and hind limbs being not placed distantly apart, as in the various anguiform Lizards already treated of--there is an indistinct collar, and the toes are not serrated or keeled. Two genera have been distinguished, _Tachydromus_ and _Tachysaurus_, the latter founded on a Japanese Lizard, _T. japonicus_. At least three species are known of _Tachydromus_, two of which inhabit China, _T. septentrionalis_ and _T. meridionalis_; the third belonging to the Indo-Chinese countries, _T. sex-lineatus_. In an example of the last, measuring fourteen inches long, the tail occupies eleven inches and a half. It is the longest-tailed creature that we have any knowledge of, in proportion to its other parts; indeed, something quite wonderful to behold and muse over. The rest of the _Lacertidæ_ are chiefly from Africa and the south of Europe; there are probably more of them to be discovered in Middle Asia, and only three or four species are known to inhabit the Indian region. Fifteen or more genera are recognised. In temperate Europe (inclusive of the British Islands) two species are common--the _Zootica vivipara_ and the _Lacerta agilis_. The former, as its name imports, is viviparous, whereas the other genera belonging to the family are (so far as known) oviparous. Others occur in the south of Europe.]