THE LIZARDS 185 



loose. By tearing away the bark we found the skinks 

 in hiding. As it was disclosed, a reptile would be mo- 

 mentarily dazed; in that instant it had to be grabbed 

 or it would recover its wits and dart away. In this 

 fashion we obtained several hundred examples, besides 

 numerous small snakes. 



Several species of Eumeces are found in the western 

 parts of the United States. The genus is represented 

 in the New and the Old World. 



Another common member of the Scincidce in the 

 United States is the Worm Skink or Ground Lizard, 

 Lygosoma laterale, a tiny, elongated species with weak 

 legs. It lives among leaves and under logs in the 

 southeastern states, thence ranges into Mexico. When 

 uncovered, it runs and wriggles awaj^ in such lively 

 fashion it is apt to find a hiding place in the surrounding 

 vegetation unless one make a remarkably quick grab 

 for the specimen. These little lizards look much like 

 salamanders. The genus to which they belong is the 

 largest of the family, embracing over one hundred and 

 sixty species inhabiting North and Central America, 

 China, the East Indies and Africa. It is in this genus 

 that we find all stages of degradation ; some of the spe- 

 cies have well-formed limbs; others, mere rudimentary 

 stumps and glide like a snake. 



Tiliqua, made up of a moderate number of species, 

 contains the giants among skinks. They inhabit ]\Ia- 

 laysia and Australasia. Tiliqua gigas — the Giant 

 Skink — attains a length of two feet. It is found in 

 New Guinea, the Moluccas and Java. The bodj^ is slaty 

 gray crossed by dark bands; it is covered with large, 

 smooth scales with a satiny luster. The tail is quite 

 short. As a captive this species is hardy. It is fond of 

 eggs and chopped raw beef, lapping up the former with 



