The Swifts 



only during the hours of the brighest light and highest tempera- 

 ture, taking mealworms, grasshoppers and various caterpillars, 

 shaking the larger ones violently, in much the same fashion as 

 a terrier treats a rat. They could not be induced to feed on 

 cloudy days, even though the temperature was high. 



About two months after the arrival of these specimens, 

 each of them exhibited about a quarter of an inch of a new tail, 

 growing from the broken stump of the original member. This 

 second tail grew slowly. On one specimen it attained a length 

 of about two inches, but on the others grew to lesser propor- 

 tions, though all were large — nearly four inches long in com- 

 bined length of head and body. Eight months after their arrival, 

 no further growth could be noted. The new tails were abruptly 

 pointed and covered with a different and much finer scalation 

 than the lost appendage. These lizards passed the winter in 

 a well-heated room at a sunny, south window, and were fully 

 as active during the cold months as in the summer. They lived 

 for several years. 



The Banded Swift, Sceloporus ^osteromus, (Cope), is one of 

 the three species of the former portion of Division A in the key. 

 Occasional specimens exhibit two external rows of small, supra- 

 ocular scales. The scales of the body are large, keeled and 

 bristling. It is one of the largest species of the genus, attain- 

 ing a combined length of head and body, of 3^- inches. 



Ground colour olive; a broad, reddish band on each side of 

 the back. On some specimens there are narrow, dusky cross- 

 bands. Throat and abdomen tinged with bright green or blue. 



Distribiiiion. — The Peninsula of Lower California. 



Orcutt's Swift, Sceloporus orcutiii, (Stejneger), is another 

 species of Division A, and readily distinguished by its smooth 

 scales, which are large and terminate in a sharp point. This 

 lizard grows to a length of over eight inches; with a specimen 

 8f inches long, the combined length of the head and body would 

 be about 3f inches. There are a series of enlarged scales imme- 

 diately in front of the ear opening. 



In its colouration this is one of the most striking of the 

 swifts. The ground colour of adult specimens is brownish upon 

 the back and blackish upon the sides, although little of this 

 ground colour is apparent, owing to the remarkable spots and 

 blotches upon the scales. The scales of the back have a bright, 



133 



