waving its slender tail; and its lively and brilliant eyes are animated with pleasure. Should any of the small insects on which it feeds appear, it springs upon them with the quickness of thought; and if any danger occurs, the little creature itself seeks a more secure retreat, with equal rapidity. On the least noise, it turns suddenly round, drops down, and seems, for a moment, perfectly stupified by its fall or else it suddenly shoots away among the bushes or thick grass. This wonderful rapidity is chiefly to be observed in warm countries, for, in milder regions, its motions are much more languid.

This gentle and peaceful animal excites no sensations of terror; and, when taken into the hand, makes not the smallest attempt either to bite or offend. In some countries, children use it as a play-thing; and, in consequence of its natural gentleness of disposition, it becomes, in a great measure, tame and familiar. In Carolina, so familiar does it become, that it will enter the rooms of houses, without fear, and in pursuit of insects, mount the tables, whilst people are eating, and even leap after them on person's clothes. They are so cleanly and beautiful, that they are suffered to run over the tables and plates, without exciting the smallest disgust,

The tail is nearly twice the length of the body, and tapers from the root to the extremity, where it ends in a sharp point. This, from the weakness of the joint, is se brittle as often to snap off

on the least roughness in handling. In this case it is, however, sometimes reproduced. The whole length of the animal, from the tip of the nose to the point of the tail, is about six inches and a half. The back and tail are variously striped and spotted, with light brown, black, white, and dark brown.

For the purpose of seizing the insects on which it feeds, the Nimble Lizard darts out, with astonishing velocity, its forked tongue. This is of a reddish colour, and has a roughness which is scarcely sensible to the sight, but, which assists very materially in catching its winged prey-Like other animals of the Lizard tribe, it is capable of existing a long time without food. Some of them have been kept in bottles, without any nourishment, for upwards of six months.

In the southern countries of Europe, the Nimble Lizard revives, very early in the spring, from the torpid state in which it had passed the cold weather of the winter; and, recovering its activity, begins its sportive movements. In the beginning of May, the female deposits her eggs, which are nearly round, and about the third of an inch in diameter, in some warm situation; as for instance, at the foot of a wall fronting the south. Here they are hatched by the heat of the sun.

Previously to laying the eggs, both male and female change their skins, which they again do about the beginning of winter.-They pass that

season in a state of torpor, more or less complete, according to the rigour of the climate, either in holes of trees, in walls, or in subterraneous places.

This little animal seems occasionally to lay, aside its natural gentleness and innocence of disposition; still, however, no further than for the purpose of obtaining food. Mr. Edwards once surprised a Nimble Lizard in the act of fighting with a small bird, as she sat on her nest in a vine against the wall, with newly-hatched young. He supposed the Lizard would have made them a prey, could he but have driven the old bird from her nest. He watched the contest for some time; but, on his near approach, the Lizard dropped to the ground, and the bird flew off.

The GREEN LIZARD is only another variety of the same kind we have been decribing; chiefly distinguished from it, by attaining, oftentimes, the size of two feet or upwards. Unlike the former, it is not found in England, but, in the warmer parts of Europe, it is seen in great numbers, about warm walls, sunny banks, and old buildings. None of the Lizard tribe, it may be observed, are to be seen in Ireland. In its manners it is equally mild and gentle with the Nimble Lizard; and, if taken young, may, to a certain degree, be tamed. On this account, and from its extremely beautiful appearance, it is usually considered a favourite animal. In

Sweden and Kamtschatka, however, it is looked upon by the inhabitants with such horror, that they cut it to pieces whenever they meet with it.

Notwithstanding the generally peaceful disposition of the Green Lizards, they sometimes contend with serpents, but rarely with success, generally falling a victim to the unequal combat. When driven to extremity, it will sometimes defend itself even against the attacks of dogs. It springs instantly at the muzzle of the assailant, where it often fixes itself so obstinately, that it will allow itself to be carried off, and even killed, rather than quit its hold. It is not, however, to be considered a dangerous reptile, notwithstanding, some people have groundlessly attributed to it, the property of giving pernicious, if not mortal bites. This fact has been ascertained by numerous and well authenticated experiments.

It feeds principally on insects and earthworms; and is, in every respect, a most active animal, pursuing, with wonderful celerity, its insect prey, and escaping, with great readiness, from pursuit, when disturbed. It devours the eggs of small birds, for which purpose, it climbs with agility into the highest branches of trees.

It runs with great swiftness; and its first motions, when it springs from among bushes or dry leaves, are often so rapid, as to excite sensa tions of surprise, or even of fear.

E

THE SALAMANDER.

NO animal of the Lizard tribe, except the Crocodile, has excited so much notice as the Salamander. Whilst even the hardest bodies are unable to resist the action of heat, the generality of mankind have given full credit to the ridiculous stories that have, for ages, been related of this little Lizard, not only being able to withstand the effects of fire, but even to extinguish it. For a long time it was believed that, if one of these small Lizards was thrown upon the most violent flame, its progress would be instantly checked. Far, however, from remaining uninjured by the fire, the Salamander is as certainly destroyed by it, as any other animal. When heat has reached its body, indeed, it appears covered with a sort of milky fluid, which comes through all the pores of its skin; but, it needs scarcely be added, that this would not be sufficient to quench even the smallest fire. In addition to this, the Salamander was esteemed a poisonous reptile, and, as such, has been generally held in terror; but, this opinion also has been refuted by numerous experiments.

Shady woods, high mountains, or the banks of unfrequented rivulets, are the usual retreats of these animals, and they are not often seen, except during wet weather. In the winter, they lie concealed in hollows about the roots of