TFJIl) LI/Ai;i)S OF THE GENUS CNEMlDOPHOltUS 93 



holes du<^ in the saiul from which they iiui}^ easily be taken early 

 in the morning;," according- to Blancliard (1922, p. 6), who collected 

 specimens in a sandy habitat in Tennessee. "The burrow is short 

 and has tAvo openings, and when the lizard is inside, one of these 

 opening:s is partially filled with sand thrown out from within." 



These lizards seems to prefer the bare furrows of plowed fields 

 ill tlic region of the Okefinokee Swamp in northern Georgia for 

 sunning themselves. (Wright and Funkhouser, 1915.) They had 

 dug tlieir holes in the raised earth between the furrows and thev 

 darted into these when distuii)ed. These burrows extended in an 

 irregular direction to a depth of eight or ten inches. 



The lield behavior of sexlineatus has been much observed. '' Its 

 motions are remarkably quick and it runs with great speed." (Hol- 

 brook, 183G, p. 65.) Specimens escape by running into brush or 

 grass (Blanchard, 1922, p. 6) or cactus patches (Weed, 1923, p. 48). 

 "They were abundant on the Florida Keys, where they were seen 

 running swiftly through the grass. (Fowler, 1906, p. 111.) They 

 soon hid in holes or among rocks. About the lagoon on Key West 

 they were most common under Ioav grassy vegetation where numerous 

 insects, such as small grasshoppers, were observed." According to 

 Wright and Funkhouser (1915) " this lizard, in spite of its swiftness, 

 is easier to secure in the field than the other common species of the 

 Okefinokee Swamp on account of the fact that it does not possess 

 the disconcerting habit of dashing along fences and through under- 

 brush." The writer, however, has found that specimens living near 

 LaAvrence, Kans.. do possess the latter habit. 



The 6-lined race runner possesses the climbing habit according to 

 Holbrook (1836, p. 65), who Avrote that "most usually it is seen on 

 the ground in search of insects, but it will take to trees Avhen 

 pursued."' This seems surprising as it is in conflict Avith later reports 

 and the Avriter's observations. Cope (1880, p. 18) found that in 

 Texas "it is entirely terrestrial in its habits." Hurler (1911, p.l39) 

 Avrote that in Missouri " it never resorts to trees, but trusts to its 

 SAviftness and skill in dodging from one coA'ert to another to escape 

 its pursuers," and Blanchard (1922, p. 6), Avorking in Tennessee, 

 stated tliat " they are ahvays found on the ground." 



Food and feeding Jiahlts. — Sur])risingly little is knoAvn about this 

 subject. "Often this animal does not detect undesirable food until 

 it is taken into the mouth. Such food is quickly ejected, and the 

 lips are then usually Aviped on tlie grountl, the lizard displaying 

 great discomfort. Members of this species are exceedingly vo- 

 racious feeders, both in natural habitats and in captivity, and on 

 Avarm days a considerable number of small insects Avere eaten in a 

 A'ery short time.^^ 



>^Bui-t, ]!)28;;, pp. 59-60. 



