Having once left the nest, the young probably do not return to it, as many nests examined within a few days after hatching were never found occupied either by females or young after their original dispersal. As soon as the dispersal occurs family ties are permanently severed. On July 19, 1950, a group of active hatchlings was observed moving about over a log, on what was probably the first day of activity away from the nest. The log was in the bottom of a steep-walled gully, where it had come to rest the night before. It had been an erect but dead and partly undermined snag on the edge of the gully, and was blown down that night in a violent thunderstorm. Most of the log was held clear of the rushing water in the bottom of the gully by projecting limbs. The little skinks were darting in and out of holes and crevices in the log, pausing frequently to bask. As many as four were in sight simultaneously, but probably the total included several more, as it was difficult to keep track of individuals. An adult female, presumably the mother of the litter was also present, but she took no interest in the young, and they showed no evidence of dependence on her. On the contrary, several times when one or another of the young happened to come near the female in the course of its wandering, and noticed her, it was seen to shy away in sudden alarm. [Illustration: FIG. 11. Sizes on specific dates of young hatched in 1950 and 1952. Approximate size ranges at different times of year, and differences in trend between the two years are brought out.] The young were much more active than the female. These and other young observed in the open were almost constantly in motion. Pauses to bask at any one spot were of only a few seconds duration. A certain log in Skink Woods evidently was the site of one or more successful skink nests each year that observations were made, although a nest was actually found in it only in 1948. On July 26, 1950, recently hatched young were active on this log. Temperature was about 22°C. and the young were alternating frequently between shade and sunshine to maintain their body temperature. Collectively they seemed to cover every square inch of the log surface, poking and probing into niches, crevices and insect borings. They had a tendency to seek out the highest points on the log as resting places.