The Spotted Lizards; Zebra-tailed Lizards 



Habits. Regarding the habits of the Occellated Lizard 

 Uma notata, is the following extract from an article by S. E. 

 Meek* and representing the field notes of Edmund Heller. 



"This species was taken only in the drifting sand areas of the 

 bed of the Mohave River, where it is a common form. It has the 

 peculiar habit of burying itself in the sand when pursued. The 

 peculiar fringe of scales along the toes evidently serves to give the 

 lizard sufficient speed over the loose sand to force its body beneath 

 the surface. The sharp, depressed snout is evidently another mod- 

 ification to aid in getting beneath the sand. Usually the entire 

 body is buried, but occasionally 1 the tip of the tail protrudes. 

 Their peculiar, mottled colouration does not render them protect- 

 ively coloured on the white sand, but their peculiar mode of elud- 

 ing pursuers renders this unnecessary, and at the same time limits 

 them to areas covered with fine, drifting sand. 



"The food of the species consists largely of the leaves of a 

 forget-me-not (Cryptombe), which is abundant among the sand 

 dunes. The young leaves of the desert willow (Chilopsis) are also 

 eaten. The insect food consists of caterpillars, ants, bees, etc. 

 One species was seen several feet up on an oblique limb of 

 desert willow, in search of the young leaves which were just 

 budding. 



"Specimens were secured at Daggett, California." 



The Spotted Lizards Genus Holbrookia: The five species 

 comprising this genus are rather small, moderately slender in 

 proportions, though of distinctly flattened form. They are 

 covered with very minute scales. All are pale in colour, and 

 usually with two rows of large, wavy blotches on the back, and 

 a row of similar, though less distinct blotches on each side. On 

 most of the species there are two bluish or blackish bars on 

 the lower portion of each side. 



This genus differs from the closely allied genera by the ab- 

 sence of external ear disks, these being entirely concealed by 

 the fleshy folds of the head. The limbs are well-developed, with 

 long and slender toes. 



From the following key, together with the illustrations, 

 the student should be able to easily distinguish the species, which 

 inhabit an extended area of the central and western United 

 States and northern Mexico: 



* Vol. VII, No. i, Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, 111. Zoological 

 Series Publication 104. 



119 



