THE NIMBLE LIZARD. 



Gentle disposition Large-forked tongue. 



chiefly to be observed in warm countries, its 

 evolutions being much more languid in the tem- 

 perate regions. 



This elegant little animal excites no sensations 

 of terror; it is very gentle, and when taken into 

 the hand makes not the smallest attempt to bite 

 or offend. In some countries children use it as 

 a play-thing; and, in consequence of its natural 

 gentleness of disposition, it becomes, in a great 

 measure, tame and familiar. But occasionally 

 it seems to lay aside this gentleness and inno- 

 cence of disposition, no further, however, than 

 for the purpose of obtaining food. Mr. Edwards 

 once surprised one of them in the act of fighting 

 with a small bird, as she sat on her nest in a vine 

 against the wall, with newly-hatched young. He 

 supposed the lizard would have made them a 

 prey, could he but have driven the old bird from 

 her nest ; he watched the contest for some time, 

 but, on his near approach, the lizard dropped 

 to the ground, and the bird flew off. 



In order to seize the insects on which it feeds, 

 this creature darts out, with astonishing velocity, 

 its large forked tongue, which is of a reddish 

 color, and beset with asperities that are scarcely 

 sensible to the sight, but which assist very mate- 

 rially in catching its winged prey. Like most 

 other oviparous quadrupeds, it is capable of ex- 

 isting a long time without food. Some of them 

 have been kept upwards of six months in bottles, 

 Without any nourishment. 



