72 



Aquatic JLitt 



On Anolis Carolinensis 



ERNEST LEITHOLF 



Late in the summer of 19 16 I secured 

 three specimens of the so-called chame- 

 leon, Anolis carolinensis. These found 

 a home in a moss-bottomed terrarium, in 

 which some shrubs had taken root. A 

 miniature pool was arranged to supply 

 the needed moisture and Anolis seemed 

 contented. 



A short time later, while making an 

 examination of the case, my son discov- 

 ered an egg. Having not the slightest 

 idea as to how it might be regarded by 

 the adults, and particularly while in con- 

 finement, we removed it to a small jar, 

 placing it on top of some moss. Time 

 passed and we about gave up hope of 

 having it hatch. Finally, seven weeks 

 later, while removing the cover to show 

 the egg to Dr. Cruickshank, president of 

 the Pittsburgh Aquarium Society, out of 

 the jar leaped a lively little chameleon 

 about an inch and a half long. To recap- 

 ture it as it scampered about the con- 

 servatory was quite a task. We were 

 considerably elated, because, but a few 

 days before, we had read that an egg had 

 hatched in the London Zoological Gar- 

 den, which was considered to be the first 

 time the species had been propagated in 

 confinement. 



Then followed several weeks during 

 which the baby was kept isolated, as we 

 feared it might be attacked if placed in 

 the terrarium with the old ones. How- 

 ever, one day it was permitted to join 

 them. It entered timid and scared, the 

 old ones looking upon it with apparent 

 indifference. After a few days the 

 mother became interested, and was ob- 

 served to take a position near the baby, 

 as if to defend and protect it. One even- 

 ing my son, greatly excited, called me to 

 the terrarium. There was baby atop a 

 small evergreen, the mother caressing 

 and licking its body, while its tail wagged 



and twisted in seeming appreciation ! It 

 was truly a delightful "family reunion." 



I have been unable to secure any in- 

 formation relative to the breeding habits 

 of the species, but my observations lead 

 me to believe that the mother at least 

 evinces some interest in the welfare of 

 her offspring. 



(Anolis carolinensis is a not uncom- 

 mon lizard in Louisiana, and probably 

 elsewhere in the Gulf States. I have 

 seen great numbers in the old cemeteries 

 of New Orleans. It is quite docile and 

 tame, and will soon take flies from the 

 fingers. During the warmer months of 

 the year it is often sold in northern pet 

 shops, and is the unfortunate species that 

 a few years back was sold by fakers on 

 the streets, a ring about its neck, attach- 

 ed to a chain and pin, and designed to 

 ornament milady's person. As applied 

 to this species the name chameleon is a 

 misnomer, as it bears no direct relation- 

 ship to the true chameleons. Incidentally, 

 the color changes have no connection 

 with the color of the object on which the 

 individual may be resting. Vivid green 

 ones may be seen on a brown fence rail, 

 or on a white marble tombstone, as I 

 have personally observed. A writer, 

 whose name I do not now recall, consid- 

 ers temperature to be the controlling fac- 

 tor, the green phase being induced by 

 low and brown by a high temperature. 

 Be this as it may, the green stage has 

 been observed on the warmest days, when 

 the thermometer registered beyond the 

 hundred mark. — Editor.) 



The Optimistic Thought 



Though futile now seems the wishing, 

 though hard the chill wind blows, soon 

 once more we'll all be fishing out where 

 the wild weed grows. 



r»lame-all and praise-all are two 

 blockheads. 



