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II.   SECOND   ORDER.
Sauria.
The species of this order are characterized by changing their
skins every spring ; but they do not find many conveniences, here»
for the annual toilet that nature has prescribed for them. These
reptiles are provided with toe-nails, teeth, eye-lids, and articulated
jaws ; their only representative here is of the second family of the
order. The first famUy is not met with, for, as I have already
stated, we have no crocodiles. Our lizards are of two species—
one, rather larger than the other, is marked with green ; the other is
altogether grey. These animals are very harmless, and are chiefly
found in the centre of the prairie region. They are most numer-
ous in the small lakes, and in the neighborhood of the Touch-wood
Hills. Their only unpleasant points are their appearance, and desire
to approach travellers. When camping, at certain seasons of
the year, it is necessary to surround one's tent with a small ditch,
of which the inner side is cut vertically, as these lizards climb up
only gentle slopes. Unless this precaution is taken, they come into
the tents in every direction,—and there are many who would disUke
to be either awake, or asleep, on a bed covered with lizards. It
is a happy trait in this animal, that in its sympathy with man it
awakens its friend on the approach of danger ; but in this, as in
many other matters, the human race displays the ingratitude which
characterizes it. I have never yet seen the man who was pleased
with the intimacy of the lacerta. But this family has no monitors.
These guardians do not hiss an alarm at the moment of danger.
And we have no more sealed monitors than we have sheeted ones.
III.   THIRD   ORDER.
Ophidia.
The order of Ophidia is hardly any richer than the preceding. We
have neither blind-worms (orvets) nor venomous serpents. Here
the order is Umited to the genus, coluber, of non-venomous serpents ;
and, in it, we have but five kinds of adders, that much resemble one
another, except as regards size and color. More careful investigation