298 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



on long stems are aromatic in flavor. Late in the season the 

 thickened pedicles are red while the drupes turn blue. On 

 tasting these drupes, one is reminded of cardamom seeds, and 

 they are capable of making the mucous membrane of one's 

 throat somewhat irritated and sore. 



A trip to this region would not be complete without viewing 

 the agile, striped lizards common on the sand. One has to 

 be (juiet in approaching them, for they easily take alarm and 

 run with great swiftness to their holes, which are often at the 

 roots of bushes. They have certain selected localities where 



Landscape in the savd Junes, shoiring the habitat of the 



striped lizard. The shrubbery and such plants 



as puccoon afford cover for them. 



they can almost always bo found. I present herewith a 

 photographic view of the plant associations which is also the 

 habitat of this striped lizard. It was taken in the si)ring. 

 May 20, lOOH. 



Such flowers as lithospermum or puccoon and Arabia hjrata, 

 and also oak leaves, sparingly covered the ground. I have 

 known two such localities for a numlier of years past where 

 lizards remained constantly. I frc((ucntly found them here, 

 climbing on the branches of the bushes after in.sects and running 

 across the sand. 



The blow snake is also a common resident here. AVhile 

 walking along near a bog under some trees, I heard a friend 



