54 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



chase some rival from the favourite resort. These 

 incidents may be trivial, yet to see the lizard 

 scraunch up his prey, and return, complacently 

 licking those tiny crocodile-like jaws, to the 

 accustomed nook, is not unpleasant ; nor can 

 we but admire the activity and intelligence by 

 which some swift morsel, seeking shelter under a 

 dry leaf, is pursued and captured. Again, when a 

 rival is attacked, the rapid and repeated striking of 

 the reptile's tail against the ground is a matter of 

 interest in its analogy to the vibration of the tail, 

 which in the common snake is a sign of anger with 

 another snake, and in the rattlesnake provides a 

 more important warning. 



When the morning sun has attained sufficient 

 power, the lizard crawls sleepily from his hole and 

 spreads himself out on grassy litter or in a cosy 

 niche. Presently, warmer and more active, he 

 will proceed to drink the dew a supply distilled 

 from misty reservoirs, and available in even the 

 hottest weather in England ; provision alike for 

 snake, viper and lizard, and probably for mice 

 as well. 



To capture a lizard, a cautious approach should 



