84 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 



ground-lizard of the Southern States (Oligosoma 

 laterali), as described by Mr. H. C. Bumpus and 

 others : 



"If captured, a by no means easy task, 

 they make no violent effort to escape, but, with a 

 most droll expression, they eye their captor ; soon 

 winning his confidence, but betraying it at the 

 most unexpected moment, for with a quick strug- 

 gle the tail is dropped off, and, before one has 

 recovered from his surprise, no lizard is to be seen, 

 the tail only remaining, which for some little time 

 twists about with as much vigor as when attached 

 to its owner. 



"The self -mutilation of the lizard offers a re* 

 markable instance of protection," comments Mr. 

 Bumpus. " It will be seen that the animal, being 

 comparatively slow of foot, cannot ordinarily seek 

 safety in flight, and having no organs of defence, 

 it, on being attacked, breaks off a portion of its 

 tail, which, still alive and twisting about by reflex 

 action, attracts the attention of the enemy, and 

 the lizard, unencumbered and unnoticed, glides 

 into some crevice and is safe. 



"The muscles of the tail are so arranged thai 

 they, by contraction, close over the place of 

 amputation, and bleeding is prevented. From 

 the thus blunted appendage a new rudiment 

 soon appears, which, in a short time, replaces the 

 lost part." 



Now this is all matter of fact, and true of several 



