134 THE CRESTED ANOLIS. 



plants in it, with some tree branches for the lizard 

 to climb on. I arranged these matters some time 

 previous to obtaining the occupants, so that the 

 plants might have time to grow and entwine them- 

 selves round the twigs. On being first introduced 

 into their new abode, the reptiles made themselves 

 at home, feeding freely on caterpillars and flies. 

 Their mode of seizing the latter insects was very 

 curious, and deserves more particular mention. 

 When flies were put into the case, any anolis that 

 felt inclined to feed would crouch down and 

 gradually steal towards a fly that happened to have 

 settled. Having crept up to within a short distance, 

 the anolis would seize the insect by a sudden spring, 

 and discuss it at leisure. After having been kept 

 in this way for some weeks, they became so tame as 

 to take caterpillars out of my fingers, and would 

 stalk and catch flies on the tables. For this reason 

 they became useful inmates of a room, tending to 

 diminish the plague of insects much more effec- 

 tually than the " catch'em-alives " advertised as 

 being so fatal to them. The mode of drinking of 

 the anolis was principally carried on by lapping up 

 drops of water spilt on the branches. I found this 

 out by accident one day while watering the plants, 

 and have since sprinkled the leaves and twigs with 

 water several times a day for them. On this 

 account I should imagine this genus of lizards in 



