Hurler — Herpetology of Missouri. 135 



eye as before. He then fell into a similar stupor and 

 remained about the same length of time, after which he 

 revived. No amount of irritation could produce a third 

 discharge, although the animal showed some anger." 



My friend, Mr. John K. Strecker, Jr., of Waco, Texas, 

 published in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of 

 Washington, Vol. 20, an article entitled "Notes on the 

 Breeding Habits of Phrynosoma cornutum in Texas." 

 This Horned Toad is oviparous, he states, and gives the 

 following account of its breeding habits: "The usual 

 site selected for the nesting burrows is the base of a slant- 

 ing bank of earth or sand. The hole seldom goes straight 

 down, but is usually dug at an angle of about 45 degrees. 

 The animal's fore-feet are used in digging, while the hind- 

 feet assist in pushing the earth out of the burrow. As 

 soon as one layer of eggs has been deposited, the lizard 

 fills in ground over them and is then ready for the next 

 lot. In one nest examined by me, the eggs were arranged 

 in four layers of six each. It is really marvelous how 

 hard and firm the earth is packed into the burrows. The 

 period of incubation is about from thirty-five to forty 

 days. The breeding season extends in Texas from the 

 middle of April into the latter part of July. When first 

 hatched the young are smooth and tender, but in a short 

 time are very active in their movements, and fully able 

 to take care of themselves. They do not receive any care 

 from the mother, who probably never returns to the spot 

 where she buries the eggs 



)5 



Family Anguidae. 



Legs wanting or two rudimentary posterior legs present. Body long 

 and serpentiform, with lateral longitudinal grooves. Head pyramidal. 

 Tongue bifid, extensile, with squamiform papillae. Teeth plac'ed on 

 the inside of the jaws and projecting inwards. (Garman.) 



Genus ophisaurus. 



Legs wanting. Ear-opening present, small. Eyelids well developed. 

 A deep groove along each side of the abdomen. Two longitudinal 



