THE RED-THROATED ANOLIS. 83 



and the abdomen white, with a tinge of green. The dewlap, or throat-pouch, is white, 

 with a few little spots and five bars of red, which color, when the pouch is inflated, 

 spreads over its whole surface. The total length of this reptile is nearly seven inches. 



THE second species, the RED-THROATED ANOLIS, is a native of America and the 

 neighboring isles. 



It is a brisk and lively little creature, darting about the ground, over rocks among the 

 branches, or upon the leaves, with equal address. It is, perhaps, a little too fond of 

 fighting, and terribly apt to quarrel with others of its own kind. Those who have 

 witnessed a combat between two of these Lizards say that it is remarkable for ferocity, 

 courage, and endurance. They face each other with expanded throats and glaring eyes, 

 their skin changing its lustrous coloring, and their whole being instinct with fury. 



As during each combat one or two females are generally spectators of the fight, it is 

 probable they may be the cause of war, and that the victor may receive his reward from 

 one of the female witnesses of his prowess. So furious do they become, that the con- 



RED-THROATED ANOLIS.-AnoWus bullaris. 



GREEN CAROLINA ANOLIS. -Aaolius priacipalls. 



queror is said to devour the vanquished, who, however, sometimes runs away as fast as 

 he can, and escapes with the loss of his tail, which is left writhing in the victor's mouth 

 and soon swallowed. Those who have thus lost their tails seem to be greatly affected 

 by the mutilation, and are timid and languishing afterwards. 



The inflated throat part of the angry animal has a very curious effect, as it becomes 

 of a bright cherry-red, due probably to the excited state of the creature. 



Mr. Bell, in his work on British reptiles, mentions a curious anecdote of one of these 

 Lizards which was worsted in combat with a common garden-spider. " The activity of 

 the smaller insectivorous Lizards, when in pursuit of their food, is exceedingly curious 

 and interesting. They watch with all the caution of a cat, and dart upon their prey 

 with the quickness of lightning. 



In the act of seizing their food, however, they must necessarily be exposed to some 

 danger from the noxious qualities of the insects which they indiscriminately attack. The 

 following fact would seem to indicate that even in our own temperate climate, an insect 

 not generally recognized as poisonous may inflict a fatal injury on its saurian enemy. 



