82 THE RED-THROATED A NO LIS. 



and during the whole summer and early autumn these pretty Lizards may be seen amicably 

 associating together. They are fond of basking in the sun. and will then dilate their dewlaps, 

 at the same time assuming the most brilliant emerald hues. 



The color of this reptile is extremely variable, altering even in the same individual 

 according to the season of the year, the temperature, the health, or even the present state 

 of the creature's temper. Generally the whole upper surface is beautiful golden green, and 

 the abdomen white, with a tinge of green. The dewlap, or throat-pouch, is white, with a few 

 little spots and live liars of red, which color, when the pouch is intlated, spreads over its 

 whole surface. The total length of this reptile is, according to the figure in our illustration, 

 nearly seven inches. 



The Green Lizard (Anolis principalis), also called Chameleon, is an attractive creat- 

 ure, quite in contrast to the latter-named. It is of very graceful shape and movements, and 

 is a beautiful green in color. It inhabits along the Gulf and Atlantic shores southward; 

 length, six to eight inches. 



The second species, the Red-throated Anolis, is a native of America and the neighbor- 

 ing isles. 



It is a brisk and lively little creature, darting about the ground, over rocks, among the 

 branches, or upon the leaves, with equal address. It is, perhaps, a little too fond of fighting, 

 and terribly apt to quarrel with others of its own kind. Those who have witnessed a combat 

 between two of these Lizards say that it is remarkable for ferocity, courage, and endurance. 

 They face each other wdth expanded throats and glaring eyes, their skin changing its lustrous 

 coloring, and their whole being instinct with fury. 



As during each combat one or two females are generally spectators of the tight, it is prob- 

 able they may be the cause of war, and that the victor may receive his reward from one of the 

 female witnesses of his prowess. So furious do they become, that the conqueror is said to 

 devour the vanquished, who, however, sometimes runs away as fast as he can, and escapes 

 with the loss of his tail, which is left writhing in the victor's mouth and soon swallowed. 

 Those who have thus lost their tails seem to be greatly affected by the mutilation, and are 

 timid and languishing afterwards. 



The inflated throat part of the angry animal has a very curious effect, as it becomes of a 

 bright cherry-red, due probably to the excited state of the creature. 



Mr. Bell, in his work on reptiles, mentions a curious anecdote of one of these Lizards 

 which was worsted in combat with a common garden-spider. "The activity of the smaller 

 insectivorous Lizards, when in pursuit of their food, is exceedingly curious and interesting. 

 They watch with all the caution of a cat, and dart upon their prey with the quickness of 

 lightning. 



"In the act of seizing their food, however, they must necessarily be exposed to some 

 danger from the noxious qualities of the insects which they indiscriminately attack. The 

 following fact would seem to indicate that, even in our own temperate climate, an insect not 

 generally recognized as poisonous may inflict a fatal injury on its saurian enemy. 



'•Some years since, I had in my possession two living specimens of the beautiful little 

 green Anolis of the ^Vest Indies, a Lizard about the size of our smallest species. I was in the 

 habit of feeding them with flies and other insects ; and, having one day placed in the cage 

 with them ;: very large garden-spider (Mpeira diadema), one of the Lizards darted at it, but 

 seized it- only by the leg. The spider instantly ran round and round the creature's mouth, 

 weaving a, very thick web round both jaws, and then gave it a. severe bite on the lip, just as 

 this species of spider usually does with any large insect which it has taken. The Lizard was 

 greatly distressed ; and I removed the spider and rubbed oil' the web, the confinement of which 

 appeared to give it great annoyance, but in a few days it died, though previously in as perfect 

 health as its companion, which lived for a long time afterwards." 



With regard to the injury produced by the bite of the spider, I can say from personal 

 experience that even to human beings, especially those who are tender-skinned, the bite of the 



