S6 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 



