10. UTA 239 



but that only a slight injury is sufficient to loosen its at- 

 tachment to the rest of the animal. 



"The brown-shouldered lizard is a very useful inhabi- 

 tant of the garden. It takes the place in the day time oc- 

 cupied by the hop-toad at night. Flies, beetles, bugs, and 

 ants are eaten at a surprising rate. 



"Lizards are ordinarily supposed to spend most of their 

 time 'sunning themselves.' But their quietness is due either 

 to their effort to escape one's notice, for more than likely 

 they have seen you first, or to their cautious maneuvers in 

 endeavoring to catch some lively insect. It is a most inte- 

 resting nature-lesson to watch a lizard on the hunt for in- 

 sects. Sometimes it lies in wait, like a cat, until the unsus- 

 pecting bug crawls within reach, then a quick pounce, a cou- 

 ple of crunching bites, a gulp or two, and the lizard is ready 

 for another. Sometimes it goes after a bug and runs it 

 down dog-fashion. 



"All summer long the brown-shouldered lizards are ac- 

 tive, but during the mid-winter months they lie in a semi- 

 dormant condition, from which, however, a little warming 

 rouses them into their usual alertness. They can at that 

 season be found by turning over logs and rocks." 



