60 THE MABOUYA. 



a store of poison to assume so resolute an aspect, retreats from the spot and leaves the 

 reptile in quiet possession of its abode. 



Happily for the Lizard, the belief in its venomous propensities is widely diffused and 

 deeply engrained in the popular mind, so that without having a single dangerous prop- 

 erty except that of undaunted courage when driven to bay, it has established a reputa- 

 tion for ability to avenge itself when injured, which is of no less service to reptiles than 

 men. Not that it is wholly destitute of offensive weapons, for its teeth are strong and 

 sharp, its feet powerful, and its claws are sufficiently pointed to scratch rather deeply. 



The Scorpion Lizard is naturally a very timid and retiring creature, and on the ap- 

 proach of danger slips quietly out of the way, wisely preferring flight to combat. But 

 if seized, the captor will have no small struggle before he can fairly secure his small 

 but determined quarry, for the creature bites so fiercely with its sharp teeth, retains 

 its hold with such bull-dog tenacity, and kicks and scratches with such hearty good- 

 will, that the non-zoological populace may well be excused for thinking it to be ven- 

 omous in tooth as well as in temper. The bite, indeed, is so severe, and the creature 

 has such power of jaw, that the wounds inflicted are always exceedingly painful for an 

 hour or two, and might give rise to the idea that the teeth were poisonous like those 

 of the rattlesnake. 



The Scorpion Lizard is seldom seen except upon trees, where it can mostly find 

 a sufficiency of food among the insects that always haunt the branches of trees, and of 

 drink in the dew-drops that collect at morning and evening. When, however, it needs 

 a more abundant diet, it descends to the ground for a short visit, but after satisfying 

 its wants, it returns to its tree, runs easily up the trunk, and again establishes itself in 

 its burrow. 



The head of the Scorpion Lizard is very broad at the base, and narrows rather sud- 

 denly to the snout, which is slightly elongated. The upper part of the head is of a 

 bright red color. The body is olive-brown above, and the throat, abdomen, and whole 

 of the under parts, are yellowish white. Just in front of the ear is a series of oblong 

 tubercles, and the temples are smooth and covered with rather large shields. The feet 

 are large in proportion to the size of the body, and the toes are rather .compressed and 

 exceedingly delicate, in fact almost thread-like in form. The length of the Scorpion 

 Lizard is generally about eleven or twelve inches. 



THERE is a closely allied species, also common in North America, popularly called the 

 BLUE-TAIL and scientifically the FIVE-LINED PLESTIODON (Plestiodon quinquelinedtuni). 



Like the preceding species, the Blue-Tail inhabits the deepest forests, but is not one 

 of the arboreal reptiles, being always found upon the earth, usually remaining within a 

 short distance of its home, which is made in one of the numerous decaying tree-stumps 

 which are found in these vast forests. Its food consists of insects, which it catches 

 principally upon the ground. 



The head of this Lizard is red like that of the scorpion, but of a much paler quality. 

 The body is olive, with five longitudinal white streaks, the central stripe being forked in 

 front, and with two black bands. The tail is brownish, with a decided wash of blue 

 during the life of the animal, a coloring which has earned for it the popular name of 

 Blue-Tail. It is, however, subject to slight variations in the color and shape of the 

 markings. There are several little lobes in front of the ears. The length of the Blue- 

 Tail is about eight or ten inches. 



A REPTILE which bears some resemblance to the scorpion Lizard is found in Jamaica 

 and the West Indian islands, where it seems to take the place of that creature, and to 

 enjoy a reputation almost as bad, with as little cause. The negroes call it by the name 

 of MABOUYA (Mabouya dgilis} but as they apply that term to anything which is, or which 

 they consider to be venomous, and as there are very many really poisonous creatures 

 in those countries, and many more which are falsely thought to be so, the word is rather 

 vague in its application. 



The Mahouya is a good climber, running up trees with perfect facility, and having a 

 tendency to traverse the huts of the negroes, much to the consternation of the inmates. 



