FIERY SERPENTS. 245

a greater or less portion of blood to the influence of the air,
to alter the tincture of the circulating fluid at pleasure,
which when sent to the surface must tend to give a colour
more or less vivid to the skin. The chameleon, or Lacerta
Africana, is a native of Egypt, Barbary, and the south of
Spain.”

The Lacertida, or true Lizards, as well as the Chame-
leonida, belong to the Class Ruprriia, Order Sauria.

Orpsr OPHIDIA.

VirzRs.—The Viper.

A genus, or rather family, of poisonous serpents, which
have poison-fangs, but no other teeth. The family is divided
into four sections: the first have the scales of the head of
nearly the same size and character as those on the upper
part of the body; the second have plates on the top of the
head, but the poison-fangs apart, like the former; the third
have the tail flattened for swimming; the fourth have the
fangs in the same row with other teeth, but larger. The
Vipera, or vipers, properly so called, belong to the first
section.