LIZARDS, NEWTS AND SALAMANDERS 395 

 SHOOK OFF ITS TAIL, 



and scampered away, leaving three-fifths of its 

 length wriggling upon the floor, where it continued 

 to twist for some time. A drop or two of blood 

 moistened the stump where the tail had been, but 

 though the loss of the latter appeared to cause no 

 physical pain the little cripple seemed 



ASHAMED OF ITS ODD APPEARANCE 



and hid itself in corners. It remained in my room 

 for a month longer, but I seldom caught sight of 

 the disfigured little thing. 

 It is 



THE COLOR CHANGES 



of this little creature that attract and interest all 

 observers. 



The negroes and even intelligent white inhabi- 

 tants of the district frequented by the anolis, tell 

 many fabulous stories of its wonderful powers 

 in this respect. Experiments with specimens 

 which were in my possession at different times 

 seemed to demonstrate that pea-green, gray, and 

 sooty black and reddish-yellow were the limits 

 of its powers. When frightened or pleased 



IT TURNED GREEN; 



if agitated for some time, in apparent indecision, 

 the color would fade and return in blotches. Under 

 an ordinary magnifying glass it could be seen that 

 the hollow around the eyes changed first. Then 

 the hexagonal plates upon 



