﻿12. SCELOPORUS 279 



commonly observed climbing about among the branches of 

 the sage. When pursued they often attempted to escape in 

 this way. Ordinarily, when surprised, they moved with 

 great rapidity to the shelter of a bush, on the ground under 

 which they remained motionless, until the collector came 

 into the near vicinity. Then they retreated into the thicker 

 brush or disappeared into some convenient burrow. Al- 

 though in the open the lizards were very shy, when they 

 were in the shelter of the brush one could approach them 

 closely. 



"Two females containing eggs were taken at Quinn 

 River Crossing May 21, one at Big Creek Ranch June 18, 

 and another at 4,800 feet on Big Creek June 25. 



"Crota-phytus wislizenii is doubtless one of their chief 

 enemies. One of the leopard lizards taken contained the 

 partly digested remains of a Sceloporus graciosus." 



Ruthven and Gaige, who observed this lizard in Elko 

 and Eureka counties, Nevada, write: 



"One generally finds this lizard on the ground beneath 

 the sage and other bushes and in this situation the coloration 

 is protective. It climbs about among the branches of the 

 bushes to some extent, but when alarmed generally runs to 

 the ground to seek safety under dead brush or in a conveni- 

 ent burrow. At night it buries itself in the loose soil. The 

 food consists of insects, as shown by the examination of 

 stomachs. Females collected on July 4 contained large eggs 

 apparently about ready to be laid, while those taken on July 

 1 1 and subsequently, had none." 



Mr. Herbert J. Pack states of lizards taken near 

 Salt Lake City: "The examination of the stomach contents 

 thoroughly substantiated the common belief that this lizard 

 is insectivorus and beneficial. The chief item of food was 

 found to be the red-legged locust, Melanoplus femurru- 

 brum. This was the smallest and most abundant grasshop- 



