BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



[8] 



During my collecting trip in Arizona, in 1889, most of the lizards 

 obtained were sbot, as well as all the frogs. The latter would sit 

 motionless along the border of the river, but as soon as they caught a 

 glimpse of my dip net they jumped into the creek and immediately dis- 

 appeared in its muddy waters, and not until I learned that a light 

 charge of No. 12 shot would cause them to turn their white bellies up 

 without even a kick did I secure a specimen. 



Very often a snake or lizard, if caught alive, will turn upon its captor 

 and bite him furiously; but with the exception of the distinctly venomous 

 kinds their bite, even though it may draw blood, will cause no harm. A 

 stout leather glove is in such cases of great service. 



The poisonous snakes, of course, require more care in handling. They 

 may either be shot, or if it is preferred to capture them alive, a long 

 stick bifurcated at the end may be used in pinning them to the ground 

 by placing the fork over their neck just behind the head. They are 

 also sometimes secured by spearing with a long stick, to the end of 

 which is fastened a stout fishhook straightened out. This instrument 

 may also be found useful in reaching specimens which have taken 

 refuge in some otherwise inaccessible place. 



Another method not uncommonly adopted by collectors is to slip ia 

 noose over the head of the unsuspecting lizard or snake as illustrated 

 by fig. 4. Formerly a noose of horsehair was considered the best 



Fig. 4. — Catching Lizard witli a slip-noose. 



thing for small animals, but Mr. Benedict, who has had a good deal of 

 experience in collecting reptiles when resident naturalist of the U. S, 

 Fish Commission steamer Albatross, has demonstrated to me the superi- 

 ority of fine annealed iron wire, such as is usually sold in hardware 



