698 



A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



they were as large as the unstriped ones, nor is it a sexual differ- 



ence. 



We also found it, in small numbers, on Charles (or Goat) Island, 

 which has not been inhabited for 250 years, and is very dry and 

 barren, with few insects, except ants, on which the lizard probably 

 feeds. A few individuals were seen in certain places on the Main 

 Island, in walls, but it was regarded as rare by the natives, many of 

 whom had never seen it at all. 



Matthew Jones, 1859, reported it as common. The early writers 

 did not mention it, but they were not close observers of small crea- 

 tures. So far as known, it is an endemic species, not very closely 

 related to any species found elsewhere. Its occurrence on the small 



Figure 51. — Bermuda Lizard (Eumeces longirostris). 



barren islands indicates that its occupancy dates back to a remote 

 period when nearly all the islands were united by land. 



Probably it was originally much more abundant and more gener- 

 ally diffused than at present. Very likely the wood-rats and com- 

 mon gray rats, which are abundant, prey upon its eggs and young, 

 and thus reduce its numbers. Owing to its quickness and the inac- 

 cessible holes to which it retreats, it can scarcely be destroyed by 

 any other enemies here. There may be no rats on Castle Island, — 

 at least we saw no evidence of any. This may account for its 

 greater abundance there, where food would seem to be very scarce 

 indeed. 



32. — Decrease of certain Fishes and SheU-fish. 



a. — Former Abundance of Fishes. 



The early writers describe, in expressive terms, the remarkable 

 abundance of the edible fishes when they first landed, and give lists 

 of various species that they took, most of which can easily be identi- 



