The Beaded Lizards 



a hole through one end of the shell and lap out the contents. The 

 small, soft-shelled eggs of lizards and the smaller snakes are 

 masticated and taken as a whole. 



Relative to the feeding habits, the structure of the tail of 

 this lizard must be explained. It acts as a reservoir for the 

 storage of nourishment, when food cannot be obtained. Among 

 various specimens of both species of the Beaded Lizards, there 

 is usually to be noted a marked difference as to the thickness of 

 the tail. This either appeals to well-fed specimens, or to those 

 that have been fasting and absorbed the fat from the tail. After 

 a lizard of this genus has been feeding steadily, the tail 

 becomes very thick and round. A specimen with the caudal 

 appendage in this condition can fast for some months with- 

 out discomfort, but during that time the tail steadily decreases 

 in circumference. Thus it appears evident that Nature has 

 provided the Beaded Lizards with a reservoir for surplus 

 nourishment, and that they experience difficulty at certain 

 times of the year in procuring food. 



The Gila Monster is oviparous, depositing rather large, 

 soft-shelled eggs, which are buried in the sand of its native home. 

 A captive specimen deposited five eggs. One is figured. Illustra- 

 tion of a female and egg. 



Concerning the breeding habits of the Arizona species, 

 Walter Ralston, a sympathetic observer of reptiles, has given 

 the writer valuable information. 



Mr. Ralston has collected many Gila Monsters in Arizona 

 and explains that the eggs are laid in July and August. The 

 female scoops out a hole in damp sand, and deposits her eggs 

 therein, when the sand is shovelled back again, entirely cover- 

 ing the eggs. A number of nests were discovered, and in these 

 the eggs varied from six to thirteen. The majority of the eggs 

 were buried to a depth of from three to five inches. The situa- 

 tion generally selected was open and exposed to the sun for the 

 greater part of the day, though the nest was usually dug near 

 a stream, were the infiltration kept the sand continually moist- 

 ened. The adaptation of such conditions for the development 

 of a reptile egg may be readily appreciated — moisture combined 

 with the heat of the sun. 



Several specimens captured by Mr. Ralston deposited eggs 

 and he thus had admirable opportunities of studying the period 



I7S 



