My First Summer 



are more than half tail, but these tails are 

 well managed, never heavily dragged nor 

 curved up as if hard to carry ; on the con- 

 trary, they seem to follow the body lightly 

 of their own will. Some are colored like 

 the sky, bright as bluebirds, others gray 

 like the lichened rocks on which they hunt 

 and bask. Even the horned toad of the 

 plains is a mild, harmless creature, and so 

 are the snake-like species which glide in 

 curves with true snake motion, while their 

 small, undeveloped limbs drag as useless 

 appendages. One specimen fourteen inches 

 long which I observed closely made no 

 use whatever of its tender, sprouting limbs, 

 but glided with all the soft, sly ease and 

 grace of a snake. Here comes a little, gray, 

 dusty fellow who seems to know and trust 

 me, running about my feet, and looking 

 up cunningly into my face. Carlo is watch- 

 ing, makes a quick pounce on him, for the 

 fun of the thing I suppose ; but Liz has shot 

 away from his paws like an arrow, and is 

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