2 TKAXSACTIOXS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



Our present interest is with the descendants of the 

 g-reat past dead. The majority of reptiles come from 

 tnipical countries, and this is the tirst ditticulty in the 

 way of keeping- them in a temperate climate. It is very 

 rare that the temperature of tlie British Isles is hiofh 

 enougli t(t suit these animals, and we must accordingly 

 resort to artihcial heating. We must study Ilu> most 

 suitahle temperature, light and feeding'. However, there 

 are a few g^eneral considerations to be investigated first. 

 Most re2)tiles, when free, hibernate during the colder 

 nu)nths in their own (limates, as also our own snakes and 

 lizards, but prior to doing so they store up sutiicieut fat 

 to carry them through their sleep. This raises an 

 interesting- })oint as to whether hibernation is essential 

 to the well-being- of a reptile or not; mar.y foreign lizards 

 have lived more than one winter in our climate in an 

 artihcial temperattire, some indeed for several years. 

 without. ai)pareutly, any bad effects resulting from 

 suspension of hibernation. These cases w mild setuu to 

 show that this resting stage is not a jihysitdogical 

 necessity to every lizard. On the other hand, some 

 years ago. I kept some green lizards which I liad 

 collected in Jersey, partly through a winter at a 

 suitable heat. They did not do very well and most of 

 tliem died before the winter ended. I find the Amj)hil)ia 

 behave much as the reptiles do. for on another occasion 

 a British toad had been allowed to go into its winter 

 sleep and after two or three weeks it was ])ut back into 

 the lieated case. It was completely upset and did not 

 resume feeding for a very long time. 



70° F. is a good average heat at which to mainfain 

 most reptiles; this may be done by direct heal uiidiM' 

 tlie (-ase, the bottom of which is covered with sand, or 

 to h:ivf tlie case over ;i heated water bath. 'I"he hcsl and 



