298 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



commoner and more hardy species. Once secured, even 

 with the best of care, most lizards are not long-lived, but 

 still will endure captivity for a time. 



Collecting lizards is a sport calling for great agility, and 

 it must be confessed that results do not always justify the 

 exertion. What hours has the writer spent in pursuit of 

 these active creatures, which seem as elusive as light itself ! 

 The larger forms, such as the Iguanas, may be taken by a 

 skilful person with a pole and noose, as described for 

 venomous reptiles. The great tropical, fiercely carnivorous 

 Tegus the writer has often captured in large wire rat-traps, 

 baited simply with bits of raw meat. Unless resort be had 

 to strategy, it is practically impossible to catch the more 

 active of the small species when in natural surroundings. 

 If one is disturbed, it darts away like a shadow, but if the 

 collector remains perfectly still, the little fellow, filled 

 with curiosity, will often return to investigate, when a 

 quick stroke with the hand net may enmesh it. 



Care must be exercised in handling lizards, for most 

 species possess the faculty of snapping off the tail near its 

 base. This is, of course, a protective measure, which often 

 enables the creature to escape its enemies. The discarded 

 member will be replaced by a new growth, but its center 

 will be cartilaginous, instead of the normal bony vertebrae. 



Contrary to popular belief, most lizards are non-poison- 

 ous, the only venomous forms being the Gila Monster, of 

 the southwest, and its relatives. The larger species, how- 

 ever, are provided with many long, sharp teeth, and are able 

 to administer a very severe bite. 



For the smaller lizards the cage must be made very tight, 

 as they will take advantage of the slightest aperture to make 

 their escape. The type suggested for snakes will do as well 

 for lizards, but it should be borne in mind that these crea- 

 tures, coming from warm climates, require heat, especially 



