110 3. IGUANIDM 



C. collans collans with which it intergrades in the region 

 immediately east of the East Front Ranges in Texas. 



Habits. Regarding the habits of this lizard Dr. Coues 

 wrote: "The length of this species, as commonly observed, 

 is 11 or 12 inches. The colors in life, when the animal is 

 in full vigor are strikingly rich and varied 5 they fade notice- 

 ably before death when the creatures fret and pine in cap- 

 tivity, and certainly no description taken from alcoholic 

 specimens, even comparatively fresh, conveys an accurate 

 idea of the richness of the tints. The throat is loose and 

 dilatable, and the animal has a habit of puffing it out when 

 hissing under irritation or in anger. 



"This lizard is one of the more agile species of its group, 

 though not so remarkably swift-footed as some of the 

 Cnemidofhoriy and is difficult to capture alive without in- 

 jury. It is one of the boldest, fiercest and most irascible 

 of its kindj those that I kept in confinement proved entirely 

 untamable. They not only defended themselves with spirit 

 and vigor by biting when handled or irritated, but some- 

 times assumed the offensive, leaping to attack to the full 

 length of the cord which confined them. Their behavior 

 was in striking contrast to that of the Horned Frogs picketed 

 with them. The lizards lay sullen, but not cowed, watch- 

 ing every movement of the persons around them with glitt- 

 ering eyes, ready to spring upon an intruder without warn- 

 ing. They clung tenaciously to a stick or the finger, in 

 which they might fix their teeth, and suffered themselves 

 to be suspended in this manner for some time before relin- 

 quishing hold. Now and then they seemed to have fits of 

 ungovernable rage, during which they leaped aimlessly 

 about, and tugged persistently at the cord. They refused 

 to eat, apparently from pure chagrin, and all died within a 

 few days." 



