86 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 
Now from appearances alone one might build up 
a pretty bit of logical fancy-work like this, but 
habits as well as structure must be considered, — 
use as well as shape. Otherwise we shall make 
the mistake of the birds who sit on telegraph wires 
and point out to one another the beneficence of 
humanity, which has considerately provided them 
with perches: and how, in beautiful adaptation, the 
perches are most extensive and numerous precisely 
in those cleared and cultivated parts of the country 
where the birds are in greatest number and most in 
need of such conveniences! 
Let us look at the matter from the side of actual 
habits. In the first place, we notice that many of 
the long-tailed lizards (and some among them 
having the most whip-like tails) are not provided 
with the detachable arrangement, at all, so that in 
their case the slenderness and length of this ap- 
pendage must be due to other causes; while, on 
the other hand, many lizards have very short and 
stubbed tails, yet seem to thrive as well. Next, of 
all the natural enemies of the lizard only one kind 
—the snakes — might be supposed to creep upon 
them from the rear, and hence seize the extended 
tail first ; and these would be obliged to let go later, 
and take a new hold of their prey, in order to 
profit by it, a movement which would set the 
quick lizard free in ninety-nine cases out of a 
hundred. A snake must swallow this or any large 
animal headforemost, and always endeavors to seize 
