126 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



In a big sanded cage open at the top to receive the 

 diffused glare of a glass conservatory the writer has 

 witnessed the Mastigures dashing about with a great 

 show of animation when a Fahrenheit thermometer re- 

 corded 110 degrees. In a temperature of seventy de- 

 grees these specimens were markedly sluggish, flatten- 

 ing their bodies, then slanting them directly toward the 

 sun to receive its full benefit. Late in the afternoon 

 they retreated to their burrows. 



It has been stated that the captive Mastigures live but 

 a short time despite occasional nibbling at lettuce leaves 

 and the like. Such specimen do not usually die for 

 want of food — they die from a lack of water. It was 

 quite by accident the writer discovered how such speci- 

 mens may be saved, for they will seldom drink from a 

 pan, or lap the drops from vegetation. The specimens 

 described were kept in a very hot, dry place and to 

 relieve the monotony of this a few cacti were planted in 

 the sand. The lizards stubbornly refused water, be- 

 came flabby and emaciated and were, in fact, slowly 

 dying. Every inducement was put into operation. 

 Drinking pans were sunk flush with the top of the sand 

 — and passed by the lizards, unnoticed. Leaves of cel- 

 ery, lettuce and cabbage were plentifully sprinkled with 

 water and placed directly in front of the lizards, with the 

 hope they would lap up the hanging drops, and this 

 was unsuccessful. Finally the various specimens were 

 teased until they opened their mouths and the water 

 squirted into the latter from the tip of a small syringe. 

 But immediately after such a process, before it had 

 received enough to nourish a specimen of one-tenth its 

 size, the jaws of a lizard would snap firmly shut and 

 no amount of coaxing would make it possible to admin- 

 ister more. One day when the cacti were being watered 



