2490 SCALED REPTILES 



nearly equal to twice the length of the head and body. In the living animal the 

 color of the upper surface is brilliant metallic green, and that of the under parts 

 silvery white; the appendage on the throat of the males, which is covered with 

 white scales, is red; there is a large blue eye-like spot above the axil of the fore- 

 limb; and the region of the tail ;s ornamented with black markings. In some spec- 

 imens the green color passes more or less distinctly into brownish or brown; and 

 when excited, the creature is able to change its general hue from greenish gray, 

 through dark gray and brown of all shades, to the ordinary metallic green. In 

 length this lizard varies from five and one-half to nearly nine inches, according to 

 sex, fully two- thirds of these dimensions being taken up by the tail. 



In Louisiana, Carolina, and Cuba, the red-throated anolis is one of the most 

 common of lizards, and may be noticed in all suitable spots, such as woods and gar- 

 den hedges, as well as the exteriors, and sometimes also the interiors of dwelling 

 houses. Like their congeners, they are, however, to be met with most abundantly 

 in the deep woods, and then so closely do they assimilate to their surroundings that 

 their presence, when at rest on a bough, is generally only revealed by their brilliant 

 eyes. In houses, these lizards exhibit but little fear of man, running about with 

 the greatest unconcern in search of flies and other insects, and as, in addition to 

 gnats, flies, butterflies, beetles, and spiders, they kill and eat wasps, scorpions, and 

 other noxious creatures, their visits are encouraged. In motion throughout the day, 

 they display extreme activity and speed, both when hunting among the foliage of 

 trees or on the ground, pouncing upon their insect prey like a cat upon a mouse. 

 In the spring, during the breeding season, the males display great jealousy of one 

 another, so much so, indeed, that when two meet, a combat is certain to ensue, and 

 is often continued till one of the combatants has lost its tail, which appears to be 

 taken as an immediate sign of defeat. During these battles the appendage on the 

 throat is inflated, and the changes of color are more rapid than at any other time. 

 With the advent of summer, these mutual animosities are, however, forgotten, and 

 these lizards dwell together in perfect amity, sometimes collecting in large compa- 

 nies. The females of some of the species are stated to dig a hole for the reception 

 of their few white eggs with their fore-paws, at the foot of a tree or in some moist 

 spot near a wall, afterward carefully covering them with soil to protect them from 

 the sun's rays. The figured kind is, however, said to be very careless in regard to 

 the place where its eggs are deposited; these being found either on bare sand or 

 rocks, or even in rooms. The red-throated anolis, like most of its kindred, can be 

 readily tamed, and makes a most charming pet, which can be without much diffi- 

 culty transported to Europe. Writing of a pair which were at one time in his pos- 

 session, Bell says that "I was in the habit of feeding them with flies and other 

 insects, and having one day placed in the cage with them a very large garden spider, 

 one of the lizards darted at it, but seized it only by the leg. The spider instantly 

 ran round and round the creature's mouth, weaving a very thick web round both 

 jaws, and then gave it a very severe bite in the lip, just as this species of spider us- 

 ually does with any large insect it has taken. The lizard was greatly distressed, 

 and I removed the spider and rubbed off the web, the confinement of which ap- 

 peared to give it great annoyance; but in a few days it died, though previously in 



