152 ASSOCIATION OF ORGANISMS—THE WEB OF LIFE 
is heaping up a pile of saw-grass and dirt for a nest, while upon 
opposite sides of the pond, and just upon the edge of the saw- 
grass, eyeing her with warm glances of admiration, and each 
other with the sullen glare of hatred, lie two old males, whose 
scarred and bleeding bodies testify that even a ’gator’s cold 
blood is thicker than water. The smaller one moves painfully, 
for his right fore-foot is missing — the larger one got his jaws 
upon it, a few rapid turns, and the foot was gone, probably soon 
buried in the stomach of the victor. The loss of a foot in 
fighting is quite common, for I have taken three thus maimed, 
and heard of others.” 
Tue Law or Beauty.—The most striking examples among 
Reptiles of relatively ornamental males is afforded by some of 
Fig. 1112.—Male Lizard (Sztanza) with Throat-pouch 
the Lizards. In certain Indian species of the genus Sitana 
(fig. 1112), for instance, the male is provided with a brilliantly- 
coloured throat-pouch, which can be either folded up or dilated, 
and is only fully displayed during the mating-season. It also 
appears that at this time the scent-glands of Crocodiles, Snakes, 
and Lizards are particularly active in the male. 
COURTSHIP AND MATING OF AMPHIBIANS (Anmpuista) 
Tue Law or BattLe.—Our information here is somewhat 
scanty, but male Frogs have been observed fighting together 
with great ferocity during the mating season, at which time also 
male Toads wrestle with one another in a determined manner, 
discomfited athletes being at a discount among the females. 
Tue Law or Breauty.—Here we may take as an example 
