COPEIA 83 



cornea by some parasite, — perhaps one of the mites 

 which so commonly infest these lizards. The writer 

 has recorded elsewhere (Science Vol. XL, 784-85) a 

 very careful examination which he made of several 

 blood squirting specimens. He found no parasites of 

 any kind, and expressed the belief that the blood 

 ejecting, in this species at least, is intimately con- 

 nected with moulting. Since this study was pub- 

 lished, the writer has found seven more blood ejecting 

 specimens and all were moulting. 



In feeding, small insects are clearly preferred; 

 but, sometimes, a venturesome individual will swallow 

 a large grasshopper or even a snail. The writer once 

 watched one of these animals eating a large brown 

 May beetle. The beetle lumbered before the eyes of 

 the lizard. The reptile slowly turned his head a little 

 to one side and watched the* insect, then raised him- 

 self high on his legs and snatched at the insect with 

 his tongue, whipping it against his lips, but not bring- 

 ing it into his mouth. The lizard hastily jumped 

 back and puffed himself out in the usual warning atti- 

 tude of these animals. The beetle began to crawl 

 away. The lizard returned to the attack, carefully 

 stalking his prey for a yard or so then rushing on it, 

 seized it in his mouth without using his sticky tongue. 

 After turning it about against the ground, the lizard 

 finally gulped the insect down. The writer expected 

 to see* the lizard use its front feet, as the common toad 

 does when handling a large mouthful, but, although 

 the front feet were waved alternately in the air, they 

 were not used. 



Mention has been made before of the reaction 

 of these lizards toward various animals. When at- 

 tacked, the lizard puffs itself out into an almost flat 

 shape, tucks the head down, exposing the horns, and 

 waits for the enemy. The habit of charging on an 

 enemy, which has been mentioned, may be more com- 

 mon than is suspected; although the writer has ob- 



