206 DAYS OUT OF DOORS. 



a perfect eye in the top of its head, especially when it 

 rests upon the trunks of trees, and is exposed to the attacks 

 of predatory birds ; but the " pineal eye " is at most but 

 a remote approach to this. On the other hand, it was 

 found that whenever I converged the rays of light with a 

 burning-glass, always so suddenly that no thermal effect 

 was produced, there was caused a movement of uneasiness, 

 a flinching, on the part of the lizard that was extremely 

 suggestive. 



The most superficial examination of the external ear 

 of the pine-tree lizard will at once lead one to infer that 

 the animal's hearing is acute; and this is true. When 

 watching the lizards on the trestle over Babcock's Creek, 

 at May's Landing, I was forcibly struck with this fact. 

 Such of them as were basking on the timbers of the 

 bridge were not disturbed when I approached them with 

 moderate care, stepping only on the cross-ties, or between 

 them ; but if I struck the rails with my cane they instantly 

 took notice of it and assumed a listening attitude. I sub- 

 sequently experimented upon this point, and found that 

 when my companion struck the rails a smart blow, even 

 at a distance of fifty yards, the lizards were aware of the 

 peculiar sound, and acted accordingly, even darting out 

 of sight with that swiftness that characterizes their first 

 few steps. I have recently learned from a correspondent 

 that his observations lead him to conclude that the sense 

 of hearing is not very acute, but the character of his ex- 

 periments to demonstrate this does not seem to me to be 

 such as should carry conviction with it, and I find it is 

 contrary to the general impression of those more or less 

 familiar with this lizard. 



It is a most interesting fact, although so very wild 

 when first met with, that once captured, the pine-tree 

 lizards instantly become tame. Indeed, I have had them 

 lie quietly upon my hand, while walking in the woods, 



