218 BLUEFIELDS. 



in Jamaica are usually at some distance from the dwell- 

 ing house. A very handsome fly with lustrous green 

 thorax and purple abdomen {Syrphus obesus), breeds 

 in such offices very abundantly ; and it is possible 

 that the Anoles and Geckos may feed on it, though 

 I have never seen them taking such prey. Indeed 

 very rarely have I seen them take food at all. Some 

 kept in captivity in a box with a gauze front, 

 would occasionally seize a small butterfly (Terias or 

 Hesjieria) that was now and then put in ; and I once 

 lost a butterfly by the means of one of these little 

 Lizards rather singularly. I was pursuing a specimen 

 of Calisto Zangis, one day at the summit of the 

 Bluefields Ridge, and had watched it to its place of 

 alighting: I was about to throw the net over it, 

 when, on a slight rustle among the leaves, I observed 

 that it was fluttering as if unable to get away ; my 

 impression was that an invisible spider's web was 

 holding it, but looking closer I found that a little 

 green Anolis had the butterfly in its mouth. Its 

 colour was so exactly that of the verdant leaves of 

 the bush, that I had not perceived it before, although 

 my eyes were fixed on the spot. On my approach it 

 darted away and was seen no more. I once saw one 

 rob a spider's hole-web ; and I have taken from the 

 stomachs of individuals, fragments of ants (both the 

 large rufous kind, and that much dreaded species 

 called the Corromantee ant), caterpillars, maggots, 

 flies, ichneumons, and other insects. 



At Spanish-town, where, as well as at Kingston, 

 the Purple-tail attains a size and vividness of colour 

 much superior to any that I have seen to the leeward, 



