238 3. IGUANID/E 



ning themselves on the sheltered surfaces, or chasing one 

 another with all the abandon and apparent delight of chil- 

 dren playing tag. 



Dr. and Mrs. Grinnell write of its habits, in Los An- 

 geles County, as follows: 



"This is undoubtedly the most abundant and wide spread 

 species of lizard in this region. It occurs from seashore, 

 where we have seen it in the vicinity of San Pedro, to the 

 higher slopes of the San Gabriel mountains. This is the lit- 

 tle lizard which is so often to be seen along hedges close 

 into town, in vacant lots, in sandy 'washes,' and in stubble 

 fields. The boys call it 'sand lizard' and 'swift,' and most 

 often amuse themselves by throwing rocks it it. The lizards 

 take refuge under brush heaps, or in stone piles, or disap- 

 pear down old gopher or ground-squirrel holes. Sometimes 

 they have little burrows, with crescent-shaped mouths, which 

 are probably dug by themselves j for if kept in a box with 

 enough sand in it they very soon dig down out of sight, 

 using their front feet and working the head from side to 

 side. 



"If injured, even slightly, as one is cornered and a per- 

 son attempts to pick it up, the lizard's tail becomes discon- 

 nected from the rest of the body and squirms independently 

 for some minutes. This is what usually invites the attack 

 of the small boy, who is ever curious, and at the same time 

 oblivious of cruelty. The fusillade of rocks may not prove 

 fatal to the lizard, and while tail squirms energetically, the 

 rest of the animal continues to seek safety, often with suc- 

 cess j or it may 'play possum,' and with both eyes shut, or 

 with but a narrow slit between the lids, look limp and very 

 dead. But it is ready to dart away, as soon as the chance 

 oflFers, and in course of time grows a new tail. Lizards are 

 to be seen with stub-tails in various stages of elongation. 



"We do not say that the lizard drops its tail voluntarily, 



