84 THE CROWNED TAPAYAXIN. 



Some years since, I had in my possession two living specimens of the beautiful little 

 green Anolis of the West Indies, a Lizard about the size of our smallest species. I was 

 in the habit of feeding them with flies and other insects, and having one day placed in 

 the cage with them a very large garden-spider (Epeira diadema), one of the Lizards 

 darted at it, but seized it only by the leg. The spider instantly ran round and round 

 the creature's mouth, weaving a very thick web round both jaws, and then gave it a 

 severe bite on the lip, just as this species of spider usually does with any large insect 

 which it has taken. The Lizard was greatly distressed, and I removed the spider and 

 rubbed off the web, the confinement of which appeared to give it great annoyance, but 

 in a few days it died, though previously in as perfect health as its companion, which 

 lived for a long time afterwards." 



With regard to the injury produced by the bite of the spider, I can say from per-' 

 sonal experience that even to human beings, especially those who are tender-skinned, 

 the bite of the common garden-spider is extremely painful. I have suffered for some 

 hours from the bite of one of these creatures, and I have seen the arm of a young lady 

 flushed and swollen, because a garden-spider had bitten the back of her hand. The 

 pain is something like that produced by the sting of a wasp, but more dull, and seem- 

 ing to throb with the pulse. 



The color of the Red-throated Anolis is greenish blue, excepting on the throat when 

 the creature is excited. There is no crest on the nape and back, but the tail is slightly 

 toothed above. When full grown it is about the size of our sand Lizard. 



CROWNED TAPAYAXIN.-PAo'nosoma Blalavillll. 



OUR last example of this large and interesting family is the CROWNED TAPAYAXIN, 

 one of the singular North American reptiles which are popularly known by the name 

 of Horned Toads, their general form and mode of sitting being extremely toad-like. 



This animal is not at all uncommon in California, and is said when at liberty in its 

 wild state to move with much rapidity over the ground in search of its insect prey. Its 

 habits in confinement, however, do not carry out this statement, as it is then sluggish to 

 a degree, remaining for many consecutive hours in precisely the same attitude, heedless of 

 the falling rain or the burning rays of the sun, and scarcely changing its position even 

 when pushed with the finger. It is quite harmless, in spite of its very formidable looks, 

 and does not attempt to avenge itself upon its captor, however roughly it may be handled. 



