i83S.] HABITS OF THE LAND LIZARD. 383 



movements they are lazy and half-torpid. When not 

 frightenjed, they slowly crawl along with their tails and 

 bellies dragging on the ground. They often stop and 

 doze for a minute or two, with closed eyes, and hind 

 legs spread out on the parched soil. 



They inhabit burrows, which they sometimes make 

 between fragments of lava, but more generally on level 

 patches of the soft sandstone-like tuff. The holes do not 

 appear to be very deep, and they entered the ground at a 

 small angle ; so that when walking over those lizard- 

 warrens the soil is constantly giving way, much to the 

 annoyance of the tired walker. This animal when making 

 its burrow, works alternately the opposite sides of its body. 

 One front leg for a short time scratches up the soil, and 

 throws it towards the hind foot, which is well placed so as 

 to heave it beyond the mouth of the hole. That side of the 

 body being tired, the other takes up the task, and so on 

 alternately. I watched one for a long time, till half its body 

 was buried ; I then walked up and pulled it by the tail ; at 

 this it was greatly astonished, and soon shuffled up to see 

 what was the matter ; and then stared me in the face, as 

 much as to say, " What made you pull my tail ? " 



They feed by day, and do not wander far from their 

 burrows ; if frightened, they rush to them with a most 

 awkward gait. Except when running downhill, they 

 cannot move very fast, apparently from the lateral position 

 of their legs. They are . not at all timorous : when 

 attentively watching any one, they curl their tails, and, 

 raising themselves on their front legs, nod their heads 

 vertically, with a quick movement, and try to look very 

 fierce; but in reality they are not at all so; if one just 

 stamps on the ground, down go their tails, and off they 

 shuffle as quickly as they can. I have frequently observed 

 small fly-eating lizards, when watching anything, nod their 

 heads in precisely the same manner ; but I do not at all 

 know for what purpose. If this Amhlyrhynchiis is held and 

 plagued with a stick, it will bite it very severely; but I 

 rnught many by the tail, and they never tried to bite mr. 

 I f two are placed on the ground and held together, they 

 will fight, and bite each other till blood is drawn. 



The individuals, and they are the greater number, which 

 inhabit the lower country, can scarcely taste a drop of 

 water throughout the year; but they consume much of 

 the succulent cactus, the branches of which are occasionally 



