52 COPEIA 



THE NIGHT LIZARD OF THE MO J AVE 



DESERT (XAXTUSIA VIGILIS) 



IN WINTER. 



A specimen of Xantusia vigilis, the peculiar 

 night lizard of the Mojave Desert, in California, was 

 collected by the writer about 30 miles southeast of 

 Daggett, on December 29, 1915. It was found by 

 splitting open a Tree Yucca, which, though dead, 

 was still standing. The lizard occupied a small cav- 

 ity in the heart of the plant, and was fairly active 

 when picked out, especially after having been warmed 

 for a few minutes in the hands. The weather was 

 cold, and a snow storm occurred on the following 

 days, when continued search, both in fallen and stand- 

 ing Yuccas, failed to reveal further trace of Xan- 

 tusia, with the single exception of a shed skin, which 

 was also found in the heart of a standing Yucca. 

 This brief note supplements those given by Dr. John 

 Van Denburgh (Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., V., June, 

 1897, p. 126). 



Carl L. Hubbs, 



Stanford University, Calif. 



Edited by J. T. Nichols, American Museum of Natural History 

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