454 4. ANGUID& 



belt. Its range overlaps, to some extent that of G. cceru- 

 leus and perhaps those of G. frincifis and G. falmeri. Geo- 

 graphical intergradation with G. s. webbii has not yet been 

 shown, but probably does occur. Individual variation in 

 a few specimens bridges the difference between the two sub- 

 species, but seems unrelated to the distribution of the two 

 forms. Individual specimens in a series of either sub- 

 species, taken far from the range of the other, may show 

 such variation, although all the other specimens of the 

 series are typical. 



Habits. This large and elegantly marked species is 

 rather slow of movement, but its sluggishness is largely due 

 to its lack of timidity, for if thoroughly frightened, it 

 sometimes runs with great swiftness. It usually is to be 

 seen on the ground, but frequently climbs through the 

 bushes. At such times its long prehensile tail must be very 

 useful. Its food is made up chiefly of insects, such as 

 beetles and flies. Like the smaller species (G. cceruleus), 

 this alligator lizard is ovoviviparous. Messrs. Doane and 

 Ely brought me a pair which they found mating in a bush 

 near Palo Alto, May 12, 1894. This lizard sometimes 

 bites fiercely when caught, but, like all lizards excepting 

 the Gila Monster, is not poisonous. 



It probably was this species to which Miss McCracken 

 referred in the following note: "Some time ago silkworms 

 were being used in large numbers in our laboratories, for 

 experiment purposes. Many of these were feeding in 

 open traps. One morning, I noticed a number of the large 

 silk glands, characteristic of these insects, strewn over one 

 of the tables. When this had happened several mornings 

 in succession, I determined to make an all-night vigil, if 

 necessary, to determine how the silk worms were being thus 

 reduced in number and what was so discriminating as to dis- 

 card the silk glands. 



