The Swifts 



that you did grasp the creature, but by the tail. A second 

 later a dark object scurries over the sand in direct line for a tree, 

 and up it darts, while you ruefully examine a wriggling tail from 

 which the original owner has twisted itself free. 



The writer remembers a section in Fairfax County, Vir- 

 ginia, that teemed with these reptiles. They were especially 

 abundant upon an old rail fence that ran a mile or more around 

 a pasture. The stiles of the fence were old and weather-stained 

 and the lizards were in perfect harmony, in their dull, gray tints, 

 with their surroundings. These specimens were not readily 

 captured. They appeared to realise the opportunities of escape 

 offered by the lengthy span of fence. If approached they darted 

 to the opposite side of the fence-rail, then ran for fifty feet or 

 more along the fence, finally peering over to the side of the pur- 

 suer, but, if finding him nearby, repeating the performance. 



There was another family of lizards living on the rough 

 stonework of the bridge over Bull Run Creek, in Virginia, and 

 these were more elusive than the former specimens for they 

 darted in and out of the crevices between the masonry in a 

 fashion that made capture impossible. 



Captive specimens remain quite timid, but they are hardy 

 and will live for years. They require an abundance of sunlight 

 and a perfectly dry cage. The food should be mealworms and 

 other soft-bodied insects. 



The eggs of this species are from three-eighths of an inch to 

 half an inch in length, according to the size of the female. They 

 are oval and covered v/ith a very thin, papery shell; it is in- 

 dented upon the slightest pressure of the fingers. The eggs 

 may be hatched by placing them in moderately damp not 

 soggy sphagnum moss, and keeping them in an ordinary room 

 temperature, where their period of incubation is from six to 

 eight weeks. 



The Pacific Swift, Scelopoms undulatus, variety occiden- 

 talis, (Baird), differs from the typical form in having more brist- 

 ling scales, while the V-shaped blotches of the back are almost 

 solidly black, thus appearing as dark triangles. This form is 

 confined to the Pacific coast region. 



Thayer's Swift, Scelopoms ihayeri, (Baird & Girard), seems 

 to be closely allied to the preceding, but the pale bands one 

 on each side of the back are nearer together, or about 6 to 8 



