264 
companionship during the long period of hybernation. When 
the surface of the ground becomes warmer, in February or March, 
the Lizard slowly crawls out into the sunshine. He has known 
nothing of the dreary cold weather ; the piercing frost has not 
penetrated his retreat; the rushing winds have not disturbed 
the completeness of his repose; the mole, a destructive exca- 
vator, has not changed the long slumber of hybernation into 
the sleep of death; and he comes forth to find the earth as 
bright and the sun shining as warmly as it was five months ago. 
In winter Lizards should be sought among the roots of 
shrubs, where they may be discovered in their hybernacula; - 
but the best time to capture them is in summer, and the best 
method of taking them is to seize them very quickly with the 
naked hand, being careful not to squeeze them or lay hold 
of their tails. 
Mental Capacity and Character of the Lizard.—With regard 
to his life in captivity I can only describe the Lizard as a 
charming pet, most easily tamed, and easily provided with food. 
I trained one to run out of his hole to a certain stone whenever 
I struck the door of his cage. Seven days after capture he 
had well learned the lesson, and on hearing my signal invariably 
ran to the stone, even when watched by half a dozen people. 
I did not starve him in order to train him, but rewarded his 
docility with the present of a delicacy, in the form of a large 
spider. The stone was at least six inches from his place of 
concealment, and his cage was large. The first male Lizard 
placed in a cage will bully other males introduced a day 
or so later. Female Lizards are perfectly inoffensive in their 
habits towards each other. The Lizard distinguishes his owner 
from other people. All creatures seem to be more or less local 
in their habits, having a partiality for some certain spot which 
they are accustomed to frequent, and from which they endea- 
vour to drive others of their species. Animals of many kinds, 
from the lion to the house-mouse, birds of large size and as 
small as the crested wren, fishes in the stream and butterflies 
on the hill-side, contend with others of their species who would 
enjoy the security or productiveness of their favourite nooks. 
