Dr. Neill on Phrynosoma Harlani. 99 
they then still enjoy all the properties of these spheres, so that 
after their incorporation they continue for a certain time to mul- 
tiply by subdivision, as we shall show in a future memoir. 
XVII.— Notes on Phrynosoma Harlani, Wieg, 
By Dr. Parricx NEIL. 
Duar Sir, 
In the autumn of 1844 I was presented with a beautiful speci- 
men of the Phrynosoma Harlant by a gentleman who had brought 
it direct from Texas. After keeping it a week or two the creature 
was sent to my friend Dr. Neill, and the inclosed letters relating 
to its habits appear to me of sufficient interest to warrant their 
publication. 
I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, 
Richard Taylor, Esq. GEORGE JOHNSTON. 
My pear Sir, Canonmills, Dec. 28, 1844, 
The curious Texas Lizard, after six weeks’ residence in my hot- 
house, is still alive, and taking a fly when we can tempt him with 
a living one. 
On procuring Dumeril and Bibron from my friend Mr, Wilson, 
I found a full and accurate description of the animal, Phryno- 
soma Harlani of Wiegmann, Agama cornuta of Harlan, and ap- 
parently Lacerta orbicularis of Linneeus. The coloured figure in 
Griffith’s ‘ Réegne Animal’ seems to-have been taken from a mu- 
seum specimen, for the bright colours are deficient ; what is pale 
brown in Griffith’s figure, is in the living subject, when lively 
and in a temperature of 65° or 70° F., golden yellow. The de- 
scription of the colours is, to some extent, liable to the same ex- 
ception. 
ortunately flies are found in our steam-engine room all the 
winter, and | carry home two or three in a small box every Satur- 
day. Phrynosomais rather cunning or suspicious; for we have been 
unable to see him catch at a fly, so as to knowwhether he throws out 
the tongue as the chameleon used to do. The gardener has watched 
ten minutes in vain ; yet if he leaves a disabled fly with him for 
five minutes, the fly has disappeared on his return. He can climb 
the perpendicular smooth wooden wall of a box in which we keep 
him and can adhere to the wall. He can leap somewhat like a 
frog, or rather like a toad—clumsily and to a small distance onl 
—not twice the length of his own ee Miss Neill thinks she 
heard him utter a kind of squeaking croak, but neither the gar- 
