The Skinks or Smooth-scaled Lizards 



constantly by it, but no guardian parent was ever seen in the 

 vicinity of the 'gator nests collected by friends of the writer 

 or himself. 



As the eggs of the SUink liatch quickly as compared with 

 those of many lizards and snakes, these reptiles may be said 

 to stand midway between the strictly oviparous species and those 

 which produce the young alive. In their reproductive habits, 

 lizards may be separated into three groups: i. The strictly 

 (TviparoHS species. 2. Those which deposit eggs with a ihin 

 integument, containing rapidly developing embryos, and 3. The 

 truly viviparous forms, producing fully developed, living young, 

 like the species of Phrynosoma — Horned "Toads." 



The Brown-backed Skink ; Ground Lizard, Lygosoma 

 laterale, (Say), is a diminutive, elongated and cylindrical lizard, with 

 minute limbs, and looks more like the smaller species of salaman- 

 der than a true lacertilian. The tail is long and almost as thick 

 as the body at its basal third. 



Colouration. — Back, and upper portions of tail and head 

 bronze, sometimes olive, with minute dots — on the body — in 

 lines. On each side of the bronze area, is a dark band. The 

 abdomen, is yellowish. 



Dimensions. — TotaljLength 3 inches. 



Length of Tail if 



Diameter of Body \ 



Distribuiion. — In the eastern United States the species 

 ranges from southern New Jersey southward throughout Florida; 

 in the Central States it occurs as far north as southern Illinois. 

 It ranges westward to central Texas, thence southward into 

 Mexico. 



Habits. — While hunting for this miniature reptile the writer 

 has always noted that it is very secretive in habits — in fact leads 

 a burrowing life. Large numbers of specimens were found under 

 the loose bark of fallen trees. When uncovered they displayed 

 considerable agility, half running, half wriggling away in a series 

 of rapid, lateral undulations to disappear among dead leaves 

 or burrow their way into mould or wood-pulp. The snappy, 

 undulating movements assist the lizard to a great extent in its 

 locomotion, as the limbs are too short to be of use in actual 

 running. Many times has the writer mistaken these reptiles 



203 



