76 BLUEriELDS. 



or two througli tlie air, and alights on the back of 

 his playfellow ; and both struggle and twist about 

 in unimaginable contortions. Another is running 

 up and down on the plastered wall, catching the 

 ants as they roam in black lines over its whited 

 surface ; and another leaps from the top of some 

 piece of furniture upon the back of the visitor's 

 chair, and scampers nimbly along the collar of his 

 coat. It jumps on the table ; — can it be the same.^ 

 An instant ago it was of the most beautiful golden 

 green, except the base of the tail, which was of a 

 soft, light, purple hue ; now, as if changed by an en- 

 chanter's wand, it is of a sordid sooty brown all over, 

 and becomes momentarily darker and darker, or 

 mottled with dark and pale patches of a most un- 

 pleasing aspect. Presently, however, the mental 

 emotion, whatever it was, anger, or fear, or dislike, 

 has passed away, and the lovely green hue sparkles 

 in the glancing sunlight as before. 



He lifts the window-sash ; and instantly there run 

 out on the sill two or three minute Lizards of a new 

 kind, allied to the Gecko, the common Pallette-tip 

 {Sphceriodactylus argus). It is scarcely more than 

 two inches long, more nimble than fleet in its move- 

 ments, and not very attractive. 



In the woods he would meet with other kinds. 

 On the trunks of the trees he might frequently see 

 the Venus {Dactyloa Edwardsii), as it is provincially 

 called ; a Lizard much like the Anoles of the houses, 

 of a rich grass-green colour, with orange throat-disk, 

 but much larger and fiercer : or in the eastern parts 

 of the island the great Iguana {Cyclura lophomd). 



