Alligator Lizards 13 
The sight of one lizard feeding seems to stimulate others to 
activity, but apparently one lizard does not profit by seeing 
another deterred when it attacks some offensive tasting insect. 
When an insect which was being stalked by one lizard was 
caught and eaten by another individual, the unsuccessful hunter 
often followed the other and bit at its jaws after the insect 
had disappeared. Sometimes it would shift its attention to the 
other lizard’s side, and after examining it for a moment as if to 
pick out a vulnerable spot, would bite viciously, sometimes re- 
peating this two or three times. During such a performance 
there are unmistakable signs of anger, twitching of the tail, roll- 
ing of the eyes, and puffing up of the body. I have noticed this 
behavior many times in both young and adult Gerrhonotus. 
Apparently, it involves not merely an attempt to retrieve the 
lost morsel of food but also a desire, as it were, to “get even”. 
Newly captured alligator lizards always attempt to bite, 
while at the same time they writhe and twist, often with an 
would probably be so distasteful to a captor that the release 
of the lizard would often be effected. 
In one instance a half grown individual when caught seized 
its own hind foot in its jaws. For twenty minutes that it was 
carried on the palm of the collector’s hand it remained twisted 
in an apparently uncomfortable position, retaining its hold. 
When it was tossed into an irrigation ditch, it performed violent 
contortions in the water for several seconds, then it gave up 
its hold and swam quickly to the bank. 
The possible protective value of such behavior is suggested 
by the observation of Compton (1933) on an alligator lizard 
which held its tail in its mouth encircling a branch, and thereby 
prevented a garter snake from swallowing it. 
The only published observations concerning the oviparous 
habits of this species are those of Gander (1931: 14) made on 
an individual of the southern subspecies, webbii. During the 
immature individuals were taken, no adult emales were seen. 
It seemed evident that they were not active at this time. The 
4 : 
during the summer months (within rotting logs and stumps, or — 
beneath strips of bark or stones) where the embryos would i ye 
