Vol. X] VON GELDERN—SKIN OF ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS 85 



of time he was able to find them only after a most careful search, 

 in spite of the fact that when found they were often in plain view. 

 However, he does not believe that the surrounding color plays any 

 role but that other factors, which he did not attempt to explain, 

 bring about these changes. Ditmars states that there is no rela- 

 tion between the color of Anolis and its siuroundings. 



One must have great temerity to deny such a statement, but I 

 have noted adaptations to the surroundings in Anolis which seem 

 to be more than accidental. For instance, I have noticed that on 

 dark brown fence rails which contained small areas of green lichen, 

 some of the lizards resting on them assimie a dark brown color 

 with irregular patches of brilliant green. In other words, a mixed 

 state is often evident and the effect produced resembles fairly 

 closely the surroundings. Almost invariably the lizards seen on 

 the tnmks of the palm trees in New Orleans are brown and are 

 often detected with great difficulty. 



The table below represents the findings on May i6, 191 7, from 

 11.30 A. M. to 1.45 p. M., during which time the temperature was 

 2 5.5°C. The environment is stated, as well as the number of 

 lizards noted thereon, and the intensity of their color state. G repre- 

 sents green and B brown. The sign + + + represents the greatest 

 intensity of either green or brown, namely, either emerald green 

 or mahogany brown, -f + represents a less intense color but still 

 quite marked, while + indicates the least degree of intensity but 

 one in which one is able to definitely st^e the color as being either 

 green or brown. 



TABLE 2 



Number of green lizards 



Total 

 G G G G 



+++ ++ + 



Green foliage 2 6 8 



Dark green foliage 1 1 2 



Concrete 2 13 



Brown tree trunk 2 2 



Fence rail 2 3 6 11 



Totals 5 5 16 26 



