82 THE GREEN CAROLINA ANOLIS. 



swollen, so as to form a pad, and is covered below with cross ridges, so as to enable 

 the creature to take a firm hold of the object to which it is clinging. The food of the 

 Anolis consists chiefly of insects, which are captured by means of singular address on 

 the part of the Lizard. The Anolis can run up and down trees, walls, or rocks, with 

 such rapidity, and leap so boldly from one spot to another that at a little distance its 

 movements might easily be mistaken for those of a bird. 



Though not aquatic in its habits, and apparently not taking willingly to the water, 

 the Anolis is mostly to be found in the woods and thickets that are in the close neigh- 

 borhood of a stream or lake. It is a timid, yet a restlessly inquisitive animal ; for 

 although it hides itself with instinctive caution on hearing the approach of a footstep, it 

 is of so curious a nature that it must needs poke its head out of its hiding-place, and 

 so betray itself in spite of its timidity. So absorbed, indeed, is the Anolis in gratify- 

 ing its curiosity that it will allow itself to be captured in a noose, and often falls a vic- 

 tim to the rude and inartificial snares made by children. Its voice is a little sharp 

 chirruping sound ; and by imitating these notes, the children decoy it within reach of 

 the fatal noose. 



The usual resting-place of the Crested Anolis is within the hollow of some decaying 

 tree, where also the female deposits her eggs. 



The color of the Crested Anolis is dark ashen blue, a blackish spot being apparent 

 on each side. Along the nape of the neck and the back runs a series of long compressed 

 scales, forming a toothed crest, and on the basal half of the tail is a fin-like crest, 

 strengthened by bony rays. The throat-pouch is extremely large, and when inflated 

 gives to the reptile quite an ungainly appearance. The greatest known length of the 

 Crested Anolis is about eighteen inches, but the other species are generally of much 

 smaller dimensions. The name Xiphosurus is of Greek origin, and signifies Sword-tail. 



OF the restricted genus Anolis, we take two examples. In this genus the back and 

 nape of the neck are either smooth, or have a low crest formed by two series of short 

 scales. The scaly plate at end of the muzzle is erect. All these Lizards are very 

 active, inhabiting trees, and jumping about from branch to branch with wonderful skill, 

 and clinging even to the pendent leaves by means of their curiously formed feet. 



This GREEN CAROLINA ANOLIS is, as its name imports, a native of North America, 

 where it is tolerably common. It is a pretty lively little creature, specially brisk and 

 active in its movements. 



This Lizard is, according to Holbrook, " a bold and daring animal, haunting outhouses 

 and garden fences, and in new settlements it even enters the houses, walking over the 

 tables and other articles of furniture in search of flies. It is very active, climbing trees 

 with great rapidity, and leaping with ease from branch to branch and from tree to tree, 

 securing itself even on the leaves by means of the oval disks of the fingers and toes, 

 which enable it also to walk easily on glass, and on the sides and ceilings of rooms. 

 It feeds on insects, and destroys great numbers, seizing them suddenly and devouring 

 them, unrestrained even by the presence of man." 



Towards the spring, the Green Anolis becomes quarrelsome, and is so exceedingly 

 pugnacious, that the adult males hardly ever meet without a fight, the vanquished 

 usually coming off with the loss of his tail a misfortune, however, that sometimes 

 occurs to both the combatants. This Lizard is seldom seen in all its beauty except when 

 engaging in battle, for at the sight of its antagonist it remains stationary for a moment, 

 nods its head up and down two or three times, as if to work itself into a proper state 

 of fury, puffs out its dewlap, which then becomes of a light scarlet, and having gone 

 through all these preliminaries, it leaps on its foe and the struggle begins. As the summer 

 draws on, the irascibility of its temper diminishes, and during the whole summer and 

 early autumn these pretty Lizards may be seen amicably associating together. They 

 are fond of basking in the sun, and will then dilate their dewlaps, at the same time 

 assuming the most brilliant emerald hues. 



The color of this reptile is extremely variable, altering even in the same individual 

 according to the season of the year, the temperature, the health, or even the present state 

 of the creature's temper. Generally the whole upper surface is beautiful golden green, 





