THE LIZARDS 131 



formance recalls the movements of a cat stalking a bird. 

 The lizard slinks cautiously toward the unsuspecting 

 prey until three or four inches away it stops, opens 

 the mouth slightly and protrudes the tongue; the limbs 

 quiver for an instant — then the creature darts forward. 

 Few flies escape these manoeuvres. 



A captive "Chameleon" may die of thirst while a pan 

 of water remains in its cage. The cage should be sprin- 

 kled, when the specimens lap up the drops, as is their 

 custom in drinking the dew from the leaves when in a 

 wild state. 



Changes of color are produced by light, temperature 

 and mental conditions. During the brightest hours of 

 sunshine the lizards are usually somber brown, but two 

 males spjang one another undergo a rapid change. 

 They nod their heads violently, and each distends the 

 throat "fan," which shines a bright pink in the sunlight. 

 Approaching nearer in dancing fashion, the head-nod- 

 ding is repeated. Again the dewlap of each pugnacious 

 little creature flashes brilliantly. Meanwhile, the lizards 

 have taken on a shade of ashy gray. Then there comes 

 the rush and combat to determine the supremacy of that 

 particular fence rail. Like miniature squirrels the rep- 

 tiles dart from one side of the run-waj^ to the other, 

 when a scampering, tailless individual, faded to a dull 

 yellow, indicates the defeated one. A few seconds later 

 the victor struts into view clad in vivid green. But a 

 few moments' basking transforms the beautiful creature 

 into a dull brown lizard, alert for flies and gnats. 



BasiUscus embraces four striking species that are 

 often termed the Basilisks. The feet are lacking ad- 

 hesive pads and the body is covered with moderately 

 fine scales. These lizards are numerous in tropical 

 Mexico, Central America and extreme northern South 



