. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. 168 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin' Vol. 28, Art. 1 tionately shorter tailed anil loiifier legged than adults. In nine juveniles less than 40 mm. from snout to vent, the legs, when adpressed, overlap or are separated by as much as 8 scale lengths (average ). In nine adults, the toes of the adpressed limbs are separated by 1.^ to 24 scale lengths (average ). However, the proportion- ately shorter tail of the young is not evident in subadults, inasmuch as the tail comprises approximately 60 per cent of the total length of all the ava
. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. 168 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin' Vol. 28, Art. 1 tionately shorter tailed anil loiifier legged than adults. In nine juveniles less than 40 mm. from snout to vent, the legs, when adpressed, overlap or are separated by as much as 8 scale lengths (average ). In nine adults, the toes of the adpressed limbs are separated by 1.^ to 24 scale lengths (average ). However, the proportion- ately shorter tail of the young is not evident in subadults, inasmuch as the tail comprises approximately 60 per cent of the total length of all the available specimens 25 mm. or more in snout-vent length. No geographic variation in this species has been discerned within the state. Twenty specimens at hand vary as follows: snout- vent length 24 to 49 mm.; total length 61 to 131 mm.; scale rows at mid-body 24 to 29 (average ) ; dorsal scales between pa- rietal and point above the hind legs 59 to 74 (average 67) ; supralabials 5 4-6 to 74-7 (7-t-7in90 per cent of specimens) ; infralabials 6 -|- 6 to 7 -f 7 (6 -f 6 in 60 per cent of specimens) ; lamellae under fourth toe 14 to 17 (average ). Thirty-seven per cent of the specimens are plain brown above, 47 per cent have a tendency toward having 2 longitudinal rows of dark spots, and 16 per cent are variously flecked with dark markings. H. Smith (1956) gives the range of dor- sal scales as 77 to 80. The source of his counts is presumed to be Kansas specimens. Habits.—This small, terrestrial lizard is inconspicuous in appearance. On numerous occasions, specimens would have been missed if they had not rustled leaves on the ground as they ran. Their movements are quick and jerky. When pursued ground skinks burrow into the leaf mold. They have been encountered at night several times. An ac- tive individual was once found in February. The food of the ground skink consists of small, soft-bodied arthropods. A captive specimen laid 5 eggs on June 21-22. At the time the eggs were
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