180 ISLES OF SrMMER. 



their confidence by whistling tunes which harmonized better wit"h, 

 their shiggish natures. Wlien the whistling stopped, the rei^tilian 

 audience retired, and carried, perhaps, the news of the strange 

 sounds they had heard to the more domestic turtles which had 

 remained below in their watery abodes. They were not all alike 

 gifted with a musical taste, for some evidently enjoyed it very 

 much more than others. I found, after a time, that this novel 

 sight caused often the attendance upon the shore of a large num- 

 ber of the lady students, Avho were much interested and amused 

 at these Avhistling turtle concerts." 



ISTo doubt the New Providence guanas were long since exter- 

 minated. The small lizards of to-day are certainly in appearance 

 not very attractive as table luxuries. Capt. Fox, a near neigh- 

 bor of ours at the hotel, secured a few living specimens, and held 

 them in captivity for a few days, that he might critically examine 

 them and observe their movements. We were, by his courtesy, 

 also enabled to learn by personal observation some of their pe- 

 culiarities, although generally we are content to get our reptilian 

 knowledge second hand. 



The Bahama lizards possess the power of changing their colors, 

 like the chameleon. How this result is accomplished we do not 

 know. They may have little vessels containing fluids variously 

 colored, and as one set is expanded or contracted upon the sur- 

 face, the lizards blossom out in brown, red, green or satin as the 

 case may be. Thus each, without changing its dress, has at 

 pleasure all the benefits of an ample and varied wardrobe. This 

 may result in frequent cases of mistaken identity, and cause 

 much trouble and possibly no little innocent amusement. Their 

 eyes have movable lids; some species have dew-laps, which look 

 like pouches under their chins, and all are considered harmless, 

 although possessing teeth, which are simple in their structure.. 

 They have an elongate round body, a snaky looking tongue, four 



