EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. 153 



tivorous. It was not unusual to observe them swallowing lizards 

 of two-thirds their own size, as well as small snakes. Quantities 

 of grasshoppers and crickets were placed in their cases; and to 

 prevent those insects from eating the ornamental plants, the blos- 

 soms of red clover were strewn about as food for them. Instead 

 of selecting the grasshoppers, the lizards turned their attention 

 to the clover blossoms, which they greedily devoured. It was 

 ultimately noted that they fed upon insects also, but not to a 

 great extent, although they displayed a fondness for large ants. 



The snake-like lizards of the Family Anguidce have been noted 

 as partly omnivorous, feeding largely upon insects, and also tak- 

 ing earthworms and slugs, young birds, and eggs. The larger 

 species prefer the latter to any food that can be offered in captiv- 

 ity. The various skinks feed much the same, although none of 

 our specimens could be induced to take earthworms. Certain spe- 

 cies of the large Family Agamidce are both herbivorous and in- 

 sectivorous, although the vast proportion evince the latter taste 

 alone. Examples of this family that display omnivorous habits 

 are the Mastigures (Uromastix), which seemingly take either 

 vegetable or insect food with equal voracity. The vegetable food 

 of such lizards is partially masticated before being swallowed. 



The Gila Monster {Heloderma suspectum) may be placed 

 under the head of omnivorous lizards, as in captivity it feeds al- 

 most exclusively upon eggs — the food which most certainly can- 

 not form a large proportion of its nourishment in a wild state. 

 Our captive specimens never have been induced to take other food 

 than eggs, either boiled or raw, the latter sometimes mixed with 

 chopped meat. Unless mixed with eggs they will not eat meat. 

 With stolid indifference they refuse morsels that are dear to the 

 ordinary reptile of their size, such as very young rodents, large 

 grubs and mealworms. Ants and their eggs are said to furnish 

 a large proportion of this reptile's food, but all the specimens 

 under the writer's observation have refused them. They have 

 lived with us for four years, and have thrived upon their simple 

 and unvarying diet. 



EFFECTS OF CAPTIVITY. 



Some lizards thrive indefinitely in captivity; others, owing to 

 an insufficiency of sunlight, and to conditions found only in their 

 native haunts, are delicate, and although feeding readily, live 

 but a short time. Compared with snakes, they suffer more 

 keenly the change brought about by confinement. The most 

 hardy lizards are the carnivorous species, for, like the serpents, 



