HABITS OF ANGLES. 219 



I observed this species feeding on ants. On a gate- 

 post a number of scattered ants of a small kind were 

 running to and fro, as tbey very frequently are seen 

 to do. A beautiful male Purple-tail had stationed 

 himself on the post, perpendicularly, with the head 

 downward ; and as the ants one by one came near 

 him, he snapped them up. He did not run after 

 them, but waited till each one came within reach : 

 in a minute or two 1 saw him thus take a dozen or 

 more. Each capture was the work of an instant ; he 

 touched the post with his muzzle, and the ant was 

 gone : they were evidently seized with the lips, not 

 with the tongue. I afterwards observed the A. opa- 

 linus employed in the very same way. 



These little creatures are as playful as they are 

 pretty. As they creep about, they often catch sight 

 of another of the same species ; immediately one 

 raises and depresses suddenly the head and fore parts, 

 flirts the tail from side to side, and extends the goitre 

 by means of the elastic arched bone in front, till its 

 tip reaches nearly as far as the muzzle. The brilliant 

 goitre is thus extended and relaxed alternately several 

 times ; an action, I incline to think, intended as a 

 provocative, or else a manifestation of sexual desire. 

 After having thus " signalised " for a few seconds, 

 one darts towards the other, who usually runs away, 

 apparently as if wishing to be caught. 



" latebras fugitiva petebat, 



Non tamen efFugiens. tota latere volens ; 

 Sed magis ex aliqua cupiebat parte videri ; 

 Lffitior hoe multo, quod male tecta foret." 



Maxim. Eleg. i. 66. 

 L 2 



