J. Roagers - 1943 57 Eumeces skiltonianus Feb. 2, 1943 1-1/4 mi SE Bald Peak, Contra Costa Co., Calif. All 17 skins found by me in 3 hours collecting this morning were cold and very slow in action. By now I consider the following facts well established: 1) Better than 90% of the skinks found in these hills have been found under rocks or among rocks under ground. 2) Skinks are seldom, if ever, found under rocks that lie on rocks, leaving interconnecting space. In other words, the skinks don't stay near the surface if they can go deeper down. Most of the skins have been found under isolated rocks; rocks that have fallen free of the general outcrop and have been lying in the same spot for several years. Many skinks have been found under rocks that are 1-3" thick and roughly 4"-14" in diameter (not necessarily round or of equal horizontal dimensions - many are long & narrow). 3) The skinks apparently dig their way under such rocks and hollow out a cavity large enough to coil up in, though they make partial use of burrows of Stenopelmatus and crickets. 4) Skinks are found most commonly where the soil is light, which may simply mean that in places where the soil is heavy, they must seek natural holes or cracks or burrows of other animals. 5) Skinks are not confined to rocky places, but are more easily found there. About 1/2 mile SE of Bald Peak