EIGHTH, -ANNUAL, REPORE. 153 
tivorous. It was not unusual to observe them swallowing lizards 
of two-thirds their own size, as well as small snakes. Quantities 
of grasshoppers and crickets were placed in their cases; and to 
prevent those insects from eating the ornamental plants, the blos- 
soms of red clover were strewn about as food for them. Instead 
of selecting the grasshoppers, the lizards turned their attention 
to the clover blossoms, which they greedily devoured. It was 
ultimately noted that they fed upon insects also, but not to a 
great extent, although they displayed a fondness for large ants. 
The snake-like lizards of the Family Anguid@ have been noted 
as partly omnivorous, feeding largely upon insects, and also tak- 
ing earthworms and slugs, young birds, and eggs. The larger 
species prefer the latter to any food that can be offered in captiv- 
ity. The various skinks feed much the same, although none of 
our specimens could be induced to take earthworms. Certain spe- 
cies of the large Family 4gamid@ are both herbivorous and in- 
sectivorous, although the vast proportion evince the latter taste 
alone. Examples of this family that display omnivorous habits 
are the Mastigures (Uromastix), which seemingly take either 
vegetable or insect food with equal voracity. The vegetable food 
of such lizards is partially masticated before being swallowed. 
The Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) may be placed 
under the head of omnivorous lizards, as in captivity it feeds al- 
most exclusively upon eggs—the food which most certainly can- 
not form a large proportion of its nourishment in a wild state. 
Our captive specimens never have been induced to take other food 
than eggs, either boiled or raw, the latter sometimes mixed with 
chopped meat. Unless mixed with eggs they will not eat meat. 
With stolid indifference they refuse morsels that are dear to the 
ordinary reptile of their size, such as very young rodents, large 
grubs and mealworms. Ants and their eggs are said to furnish 
a large proportion of this reptile’s food, but all the specimens 
under the writer’s observation have refused them. They have 
lived with us for four years, and have thrived upon their simple 
and unvarying diet. 
BPHEE CTS TOR VEAP TL Vyhi ve 
Some lizards thrive indefinitely in captivity; others, owing to 
an insufficiency of sunlight, and to conditions found only in their 
native haunts, are delicate, and although feeding readily, live 
but a short time. Compared with snakes, they suffer more 
keenly the change brought about by confinement. The most 
hardy lizards are the carnivorous species, for, like the serpents, 
