170 Lizards. 



in and out in an intricate pattern, occasionally a little 

 resembling the Moorish stjie of ornamentation seen 

 on the .walls of the Alhambra. I have found poles 

 so curiously carved like this that the idea naturall}^ 

 occurred of using them for cabinet work. They 

 might at least have supplied a hint for a design. 

 Besides the wrens, many other birds visit the wood- 

 pile — sparrows are perpetually coming, and on the 

 retired side towards the meadow the robins build their 

 nests. On the ridge where some of the sticks project 

 the swallows often perch and twitter — generally a 

 pair seem to come together. 



It takes skill as well as mere strength even to do 

 so simple a thing as to split the rough logs l^'ing here 

 on the ground. They are not like those Abraham 

 Lincoln began life working at — even-grained wood, 

 quickly divided, but tough and full of knots strangely 

 twisted ; so that it needs judgment to put the wedges 

 in the right place. 



Near the wood-pile is a well and a stone trough 

 for thirst}^ horses to drink from, and as the water, 

 carelessly pumped in by the carters' lads, frequentlj'' 

 overflows, the ground just there is usually moist. If 

 one of the loose oak logs with the grass growing up 

 round it that lie here is rolled over, occasionally a 

 lizard may be found under it. This lizard is slender, 

 and not more than three or four inches in length, 

 general color a yellowish green. Where one is found 

 a second is commonly close by. They are elegantly 

 shaped, and quick in their motions, speedil}- making 

 off. They may now and then be discovered under 

 large stones, if there is a crevice, in the meadows. 

 They do not in the least resemble the ordinary ' land- 



