five-lined skink taken on the Reservation in November was found in a funnel trap after a rain at the end of a long drought. It may have been attracted to the surface by moisture. The following table shows the dates on which various events of the annual cycle were observed in each of five different years. Owing, to the secretive habits of the skinks, these events generally were not observed until somewhat after their earliest occurrence in any one season. The lag was greater in some instances than in others. Table 3. Phenology of the Annual Cycle in Five Different Years. =====================+=========+=========+=========+=========+========= | _1949_ | _1950_ | _1951_ | _1952_ | _1953_ ---------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------- Earliest emergence | | | | | from hibernation | Mar. 30 | ....... | Mar. 24 | Mar. 29 | Mar. 20 General emergence | | | | | from hibernation | ....... | Apr. 7 | Apr. 14 | Apr. 17 | Mar. 27 Breeding coloration | | | | | appearing in males | ....... | Apr. 15 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 28 | Apr. 16 Peak of breeding | | | | | season | May 3 | May 12 | May 16 | May 10 | May 7 Females starting | | | | | nest burrows | May 26 | May 24 | May 19 | May 19 | May 24 Last appearance of | | | | | gravid females | June 10 | June 17 | June 29 | June 9 | ....... Earliest appearance | | | | | of eggs | June 10 | June 13 | June 24 | June 22 | June 16 Earliest appearance | | | | | of hatchlings | July 5 | July 15 | July 23 | July 3 | July 13 Latest hatching | | | | | date | July 15 | Aug. 8 | Aug. 8 | July 14 | ....... Latest fall record | Oct. 15 | Sept. 19| Sept. 26| Nov. 9 | Oct. 12 ---------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------- SEXUAL CYCLES AND BEHAVIOR